Elon Musk appears to break with Trump admin on tariffs as he slams Peter Navarro and says he wants zero tariff situation with Europe
Elon Musk appeared to split from the Trump administration on tariffs overnight — as he lashed out at trade adviser Peter Navarro and said he hoped for a “zero tariff situation” between the US and Europe.The world’s richest man made the comments after President Trump announced sweeping tariffs against virtually every US trading partner last week.The resulting stock market crash saw $11 billion wiped off his net worth.The Tesla and SpaceX guru’s made very public swipes Saturday against Navarro, who is widely seen as one of the top architects of Trump’s tariff regime.“A PhD in Econ from Harvard is a bad thing, not a good thing.
Results in the ego/brains>>1 problem,” Musk vented on X Saturday in response to a user touting the trade adviser’s explanations of tariffs.Another user chimed in, saying that Navarro was “correct” in his assessment of tariffs, prompting Musk to retort, “He ain’t built sh—.”The de facto Department of Government Efficiency boss, whose special government employee status is set to expire at the end of next month, later shared his hope for normal trade relations between the US and Europe during a video-link at a congress in Florence of Italy’s right-leaning co-ruling League Party.“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,” Musk said.As part of his so-called “Liberation Day” on Wednesday, Trump had announced a tariff of 10% and customized rates against US trading partners that have trade surpluses with America.
Those rates included a 20% generic tariff against the European Union.“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, adding that this “has certainly been my advice to the president.”Musk, who has previously met wi...