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| Elon Musk labels Trump adviser Navarro 'moron' over Tesla comment | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Elon Musk has called President Donald Trump's trade adviser, Peter Navarro, a "moron" over comments he made about his electric vehicle firm, Tesla. | Elon Musk has called President Donald Trump's trade adviser, Peter Navarro, a "moron" over comments he made about his electric vehicle firm, Tesla. |
| Musk - who is also a member of the Trump administration - also said Navarro was "dumber than a sack of bricks" in posts on his social media platform X. | Musk - who is also a member of the Trump administration - also said Navarro was "dumber than a sack of bricks" in posts on his social media platform X. |
| It was in response to an interview Navarro gave in which he described Tesla as a "car assembler", rather than a manufacturer, because of its use of foreign-made parts. | It was in response to an interview Navarro gave in which he described Tesla as a "car assembler", rather than a manufacturer, because of its use of foreign-made parts. |
| Navarro was being interviewed about Trump's tariff policy and said he wanted to see such parts made in the US in the future instead. | Navarro was being interviewed about Trump's tariff policy and said he wanted to see such parts made in the US in the future instead. |
| Musk said the claims were "demonstrably false." | Musk said the claims were "demonstrably false." |
| The BBC has asked the White House for comment. | The BBC has asked the White House for comment. |
| Trump has in part justified his global wave of tariffs by saying he wants to revive manufacturing in the US. | Trump has in part justified his global wave of tariffs by saying he wants to revive manufacturing in the US. |
| This is an argument Navarro was expanding on during an appearance on CNBC on Monday. | This is an argument Navarro was expanding on during an appearance on CNBC on Monday. |
| "If you look at our auto industry, right, we're in assembly line for German engines and transmissions right now", he said. | "If you look at our auto industry, right, we're in assembly line for German engines and transmissions right now", he said. |
| "We're going to get to a place where America makes stuff again, real wages are going to be up, profits are going to be up". | "We're going to get to a place where America makes stuff again, real wages are going to be up, profits are going to be up". |
| Peter Navarro advises President Trump on trade, manufacturing and growth policy | Peter Navarro advises President Trump on trade, manufacturing and growth policy |
| Responding to the comments on Tuesday, Musk posted a link to a 2023 article by car valuation firm Kelley Blue Book, which cited Car.com findings that Tesla vehicles had the most parts produced in the US. | Responding to the comments on Tuesday, Musk posted a link to a 2023 article by car valuation firm Kelley Blue Book, which cited Car.com findings that Tesla vehicles had the most parts produced in the US. |
| "By any definition whatsoever, Tesla is the most vertically integrated auto manufacturer in America with the highest percentage of US content," Musk wrote in a follow-up post. | "By any definition whatsoever, Tesla is the most vertically integrated auto manufacturer in America with the highest percentage of US content," Musk wrote in a follow-up post. |
| Technology industry analyst Dan Ives said on Sunday that the company was less exposed to tariffs than other US car makers such as GM, Ford, and Stellantis. | Technology industry analyst Dan Ives said on Sunday that the company was less exposed to tariffs than other US car makers such as GM, Ford, and Stellantis. |
| But he too claimed the company sourced the majority of its parts from outside the US, highlighting China. | But he too claimed the company sourced the majority of its parts from outside the US, highlighting China. |
| "The tariffs in their current form will disrupt Tesla, the overall supply chain, and its global footprint which has been a clear advantage over the years vs. rising competitors like BYD," he said. | "The tariffs in their current form will disrupt Tesla, the overall supply chain, and its global footprint which has been a clear advantage over the years vs. rising competitors like BYD," he said. |
| Live updates: The latest as US stocks rally after days of turmoil | Live updates: The latest as US stocks rally after days of turmoil |
| Analysis: Trump's game of chicken over tariffs leaves world guessing | Analysis: Trump's game of chicken over tariffs leaves world guessing |
| Explainer: What are tariffs and why is Trump using them? | Explainer: What are tariffs and why is Trump using them? |
| Trump's tariffs have caused stock market falls around the world, as investors calculate it will result in firms making smaller profits. | Trump's tariffs have caused stock market falls around the world, as investors calculate it will result in firms making smaller profits. |
| Musk - who is leading DOGE, which is tasked with cutting federal spending - warned in an X post on 27 March that even his company would not be immune from tariff disruption. | Musk - who is leading DOGE, which is tasked with cutting federal spending - warned in an X post on 27 March that even his company would not be immune from tariff disruption. |
| Another Trump backer, the billionaire fund manager Bill Ackman, has called for a pause on the tariffs to stave off what he called "major global economic disruption." | Another Trump backer, the billionaire fund manager Bill Ackman, has called for a pause on the tariffs to stave off what he called "major global economic disruption." |
| In a post on X, he said the current plans would do "unnecessary harm." | In a post on X, he said the current plans would do "unnecessary harm." |
| Navarro is considered an ultra-Trump loyalist after being jailed for ignoring a subpoena from a House committee investigating alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. | Navarro is considered an ultra-Trump loyalist after being jailed for ignoring a subpoena from a House committee investigating alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. |
| He is also thought to be one of the main architects of Trump's tariff policy. | He is also thought to be one of the main architects of Trump's tariff policy. |