Musk slams Navarro’s economic credentials in heated feud
The feud began when Musk, Tesla’s CEO, targeted Navarro’s academic background in a series of sharp posts on social media platform X. Reacting to a user praising Navarro’s Harvard PhD in economics, Musk quipped, “A PhD in Econ from Harvard is a bad thing, not a good thing. Results in the ego/brains>>1 problem.”Musk’s dig went further when he agreed with a statement saying that “in every disaster throughout American history, there always seems to be a man from Harvard in the middle of it.”
This set off Navarro, who defended his position on Fox News, dismissing Musk’s comments as self-interested.
“Elon sells cars. He’s simply protecting his own interests,” Navarro said, suggesting that Tesla’s global supply chain—which relies heavily on parts from China, Mexico, and Japan—would be hurt by the new tariffs.
Musk Pushes for Zero Tariffs with Europe
The clash comes after Musk publicly called for a bold vision of global trade—a “zero-tariff zone” between the US and Europe.
Speaking during a video conference with Italian politician Matteo Salvini, Musk argued that the US and Europe should eliminate tariffs entirely to create a free trade zone. He also shared that he had conveyed this idea to President Trump directly, adding that people should be able to work freely across both regions.
Navarro Hits Back at Musk
Navarro did not mince words in his response. Appearing on Fox News, he doubled down on his support for the tariffs, calling Musk’s stance a clear case of business interests overriding national policy.
“Elon when he’s in his DOGE lane is great,” Navarro quipped, referencing Musk’s popularity in cryptocurrency circles, “but we understand what’s going on here. He’s protecting Tesla’s supply chain.”
Navarro also pointed out that while Tesla’s manufacturing facilities are based in the US, much of the carmaker’s parts come from overseas, particularly from China. “They get a lot of their parts from China, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, and elsewhere,” Navarro added.
The Broader Picture: Trump’s Tariff Blitz
The battle between Musk and Navarro is part of a wider escalation of trade tensions under the Trump administration. Last week, President Trump announced his largest set of tariffs yet, beginning with a 10% baseline tariff on imports. The tariffs have rattled markets and drawn backlash from major companies, especially those with global supply chains, like Tesla.
Musk’s remarks on tariffs came just days after Trump’s “Liberation Day” event, which saw the US implement a historic series of trade restrictions.
Despite the escalating tension, Navarro downplayed any personal rift with Musk, framing the disagreement as a policy difference rather than a personal attack. “There’s no personal issue here,” Navarro stated, emphasising that the tariffs were designed to benefit the US economy in the long run.
