White House Trade Adviser Responds to Elon Musk’s Criticism

WASHINGTON – On Friday, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro seemed indifferent to Elon Musk, who had previously mocked him as “more stupider than a brick bag.”

“I’m not happy,” Navarro expressed to reporters when asked about Musk’s recent activities and his distancing from the Trump administration. “People go back and forth from the White House.”

Musk has been a significant player in President Trump’s push for government efficiency, and his relationship with Trump has experienced notable tension in recent days.

During the press conference, Navarro appeared keen to shift the focus away from the conflict.

“I work a lot with DOE people here,” he commented when questioned about the tech entrepreneur.

He mentioned that he is involved in a “very special project” aimed at saving taxpayers money.

“We’ve adopted a very important computer program, which comes at a great cost to Americans, reminiscent of IBM’s punch card system from the 1950s. We’re transitioning from Model T to Ferrari,” Navarro stated.

The friction between Navarro and Musk had escalated in April after Navarro had suggested Musk’s operations resembled a “car assembler” more than a true car manufacturer.

Musk responded on social media, remarking, “Navarro is really stupid,” and asserted that “what he’s saying here is clearly wrong.” He emphasized that Tesla produces the most American-made cars and described the company as the most vertically integrated automaker in the U.S.

Last month, Trump announced a 25% tariff on foreign cars and parts, which were slated to be implemented in May. Some nations, including Canada, Mexico, and the UK, received exemptions due to existing trade agreements.

The initial 10% global tariffs had already come into effect on April 5th.

“We can have a disagreement,” Navarro remarked when addressing Musk’s comments. He reiterated his stance that tariffs had negative economic implications, despite claiming they led to price stability and growth.

Recently, Trump voiced disappointment in Musk after the billionaire intensified his criticisms of Congressional spending initiatives, labeling them “massive” and “outrageous.” Trump replied, “I am very disappointed in Elon. I have helped Elon a lot.”

The situation escalated further when SpaceX representatives implied potential issues with government grants and contracts related to Trump.

Action against Musk was suggested by Trump, as he said, “The easiest way to save money on our budget, billions and billions of dollars, is to end Elon’s government subsidies and contracts. I’ve always been surprised Biden hasn’t pursued that!”

Musk, in turn, accused the administration of obstructing investigations into Jeffrey Epstein.

When asked about the recent developments on Friday, Trump dismissed the criticism, stating, “The numbers are passing through the roof, the stock market is rising, billions are pouring from tariffs. My poll count is the highest ever. Other than that, what can I tell you?”