Tensions between two prominent figures in Donald Trump’s circle escalated over the weekend after Elon Musk publicly ridiculed former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, calling him a “moron” and “dumber than a sack of bricks” in response to Navarro’s defense of sweeping tariffs proposed under a potential second Trump administration.
The heated remarks followed Navarro’s appearance on Fox News’ *Sunday Morning Futures*, where he responded to Musk’s earlier comments advocating for a zero-tariff trade agreement with Europe—something Musk suggested would boost global commerce and ease tensions. Navarro dismissed Musk’s suggestion, accusing the billionaire entrepreneur of oversimplifying international trade policy and prioritizing his own business interests.
“It was interesting to hear Elon Musk at the beginning talk about a zero-tariff zone with Europe. He didn’t understand that,” Navarro said in the televised interview. “The thing that’s, I think, important about Elon to understand—he sells cars.”
Navarro, who was the architect of Trump’s aggressive trade policy during his first term, including the tariff battles with China and the European Union, defended his approach and brushed off Musk’s criticism. When asked if the public disagreement pointed to a deeper rift between himself and Musk—both influential figures in Trump-aligned politics—Navarro downplayed any internal divide.
“There’s no rift here,” he said. “We don’t mind him saying whatever he wants, but just the American people need to understand that we understand what that’s all about. It’s fine.”
Still, the clash underscores growing ideological tension within the GOP, particularly as Trump’s allies debate how far a second-term administration should go in reviving protectionist trade policies. Navarro has remained one of the most unrelenting proponents of tariffs as a cornerstone of economic nationalism, while Musk represents a powerful wing of the pro-business elite wary of government interference in global markets.
A former Trump adviser, speaking to NBC News, emphasized that Navarro’s loyalty to the former president runs deep, citing his four-month stint in federal prison for contempt of Congress after defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
“He went to jail for President Trump. I’m not sure how much more you could show loyalty,” the adviser said. “Sure, Elon is his guy and they get along great, but there is just another level there with Peter.”
That same adviser suggested that if the feud between Navarro and Musk continues to escalate, Navarro is unlikely to lose favor with Trump. “If this turns out to be an all-out war, I very much doubt Peter is the one who is going to come out on the wrong end of it. I really wish it was not so public and am not sure how exactly it will play out, but I know that the president very much values what Peter did for him.”
Navarro’s return to public life following his release from prison was marked by a high-profile appearance at the Republican National Convention, where he passionately defended Trump and railed against the Biden administration’s economic policies. The moment was seen by many within the GOP as a reassertion of Navarro’s central role in the MAGA movement.
Asked about the spat between Navarro and Musk, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared unfazed, telling CNBC, “Whatever. We are the most transparent administration in history expressing our disagreements in public.”
The dispute also drew attention from Capitol Hill, where Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer seized the moment to criticize the perceived dysfunction within Trump’s inner circle. Speaking on the Senate floor, Schumer said, “The chaos within the Trump administration was shown a few minutes ago when Elon Musk called Peter Navarro, the chief architect of these tariffs, a moron. That’s Musk’s word. He called him a moron.”
Schumer added, “Their plan is so crazy, so controversial, that this administration cannot get its act together—with them calling names about each other—about this tariff plan.”
As Trump weighs his economic team for a potential return to the White House in 2025, the clash between two of his most visible backers—one a former federal official turned convicted defiant, the other the world’s richest man—may prove to be a test of which vision for trade policy will dominate the next phase of Republican politics.
