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Tesla CEO Elon Musk slammed former Trump trade advisor Peter Navarro, calling him "truly a moron" for claiming Tesla is merely a car assembler and not a true manufacturer. Musk defended Tesla’s American-made credentials, reigniting tensions over U.S. trade policies and the future of domestic manufacturing.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has fiercely responded to former Trump trade advisor Peter Navarro, who claimed Tesla was not a true car manufacturer but merely a "car assembler." In a scathing post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk labeled Navarro "truly a moron" and "dumber than a sack of bricks," defending Tesla’s commitment to American manufacturing.

Navarro’s remarks suggested that Tesla depends heavily on imported parts like batteries and electronics, accusing the company of benefiting from cheaper foreign components. Musk quickly hit back, highlighting Tesla's dominance in producing vehicles with the highest percentage of American-made parts, challenging Navarro’s assertions as "completely ignorant."

The heated exchange reflects broader tensions surrounding trade policy during the Trump era. While Musk had maintained a pragmatic relationship with the Trump administration, he frequently opposed the former president’s hardline tariff strategies, advocating instead for free trade zones between North America and Europe.

Despite backlash from industry leaders and concerns over U.S.-China trade relations, Trump had doubled down on his tariff-first approach—a stance Musk and other tech executives often criticized for harming American innovation.

Musk’s comments not only defend Tesla’s manufacturing reputation but also expose deeper divides between tech leaders and traditional political figures over the future of U.S. industrial policy.

The public clash underscores how trade debates continue to spark friction between major economic players, even years after Trump’s presidency.