By Katherine Tinsley
1:47am PDT, Apr 8, 2025
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Elon Musk seemingly criticized Peter Navarro and Donald Trump's stance on tariffs, but Navarro thinks the tech tycoon is worried about his Tesla brand.
"Elon, when he's in his DOGE lane, is great, but we understand what's going on here. Elon sells cars. He's simply protecting his own interests," Navarro said on Sunday Morning Futures on Sunday, April 7.
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Elon Musk questioned Peter Navarro's credentials — despite the latter obtaining a doctorate in economics from Harvard. However, the economist didn't speak negatively about the South African businessman.
"There's no rift here. Look, Elon, he's got X, he's got a big microphone. 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, and it's fine," Navarro said.
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Elon Musk questioned Peter Navarro's credentials on X.
"A PhD in Econ from Harvard is a bad thing, not a good thing," the businessman wrote. "Results in the ego/brains>>1 problem."
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One X user saw Elon Musk's criticism of Peter Navarro and defended the counselor for trade and manufacturing.
"He ain't built s***," Musk wrote after the X user said Navarro was "correct."
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Donald Trump's administration announced a 20% tariff on items from the European Union, and Elon Musk was honest about his thoughts on the arrangement.
"At the end of the day, I hope it's agreed that both Europe and the United States should move ideally, in my view, to a zero tariff situation, effectively creating a free trade zone between Europe and North America," he said.
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Elon Musk later revealed he told Donald Trump to allow room for global business practices.
"If people wish to work in Europe or wish to work in North America, they should be allowed to do so, in my view," Musk told League leader Matteo Salvini, noting that this "has certainly been my advice to the president."
