Elon Musk Describes Trump's Chief Tariff Advisor as 'Less Intelligent Than a Sack of Bricks' | Carscoops

      The insults were exchanged after Peter Navarro criticized Musk, even though Tesla produces some of the most American-made vehicles in the country.

      6 hours ago

      by Brad Anderson

      Musk responded to Trump’s top trade advisor after being labeled a car assembler rather than a manufacturer.

      Navarro asserted that Musk seeks access to inexpensive foreign parts despite Tesla's domestic operations.

      Musk refuted Navarro’s claims as false and challenged his intelligence in a straightforward social media post.

      The intersection of politics and the automotive sector has rarely been smooth, and it has now taken a more contentious turn. Peter Navarro, President Donald Trump’s chief trade advisor, has targeted Tesla CEO Elon Musk, not as an innovative entrepreneur or a manufacturer, but in a less flattering light: as a mere car assembler.

      This criticism emerged just days after Musk advocated for a tariff-free trade zone between the United States and Europe, a proposition he defined as a move toward economic openness. Evidently, not everyone in the White House shares this perspective.

      Navarro is a key architect of Trump’s extensive tariff policy, which has caused disruption in global markets and, according to numerous economists, raised the risk of a potential recession in the United States.

      While discussing the issue with CNBC, Navarro dismissed Musk’s call for zero tariffs, implying that Musk simply wants Tesla to obtain inexpensive parts from abroad.

      “When it comes to tariffs and trade, we all understand in the White House – and the American people understand – that Elon is a car manufacturer, but he’s not really a manufacturer. He’s a car assembler,” Navarro stated.

      He claimed that a large part of Tesla’s supply chain extends throughout Asia, including Japan, China, and Taiwan. Navarro characterized Musk as someone more focused on cost-effective sourcing rather than on bolstering national manufacturing.

      “The difference in our thinking and Elon’s is that we want tires made in Akron,” Navarro added. “We want transmissions made in Indianapolis. We want engines made in Flint and Saginaw, and we want the cars produced here.”

      Musk Responds

      Tesla’s CEO is not known for allowing criticism to go unchallenged, and this occasion was no different. Musk swiftly escalated the exchange with Navarro, defending his company and criticizing the administration’s trade policies.

      “Tesla has the most American-made cars. Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks,” Musk remarked on X, the social media platform he owns. In a follow-up post, he reinforced his stance: “Navarro is truly a moron. What he says here is demonstrably false.”

      Tesla has the most American-made cars. Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks. @IfindRetards @RealPNavarro https://t.co/gECgtZt5Sc

      — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 8, 2025

      Tesla’s Domestic Manufacturing Shows a Different Reality

      Contrary to Navarro’s accusations, Tesla’s actual manufacturing statistics indicate a much more local production scene. Although it’s true that no automaker is completely free from global supply chains, Tesla’s models, such as the Model 3, Model Y, Cybertruck, Model S, and Model X, consistently rank among the most American-made in the automotive sector.

      A recent analysis from the Kogod School of Business at American University found that 87.5% of the parts in the current Model 3 Performance come from either the US or Canada. Similarly, the standard Model Y and Model Y Long Range incorporate 85% domestic content, the Cybertruck contains 82.5% local parts, and both the Model S and Model X use 80% domestic components.

      Least Affected Yet Still Criticized

      Ironically, this makes Tesla one of the automakers least impacted by the tariffs designed by Navarro. Nevertheless, Musk continues to be a prominent critic of those tariffs. His ongoing interactions with Trump have often included a mix of public agreement and significant disagreement, with trade policy being a major contentious issue.

      Despite his high-profile friendship with the former president, Musk has been unable to change Trump’s position on tariffs. Furthermore, Navarro’s comments highlight that even Tesla’s considerable American manufacturing presence does not exempt it from scrutiny in the current politically charged trade landscape.