Musk and Navarro Clash Over Trump's Tariffs as Tesla Stock Plummets

The public dispute highlights a deeper ideological divide between free trade advocates and proponents of domestic manufacturing within the Trump administration.

Elon Musk has called for a zero-tariff free trade zone between the U.S. and Europe, advocating for smoother trade flows and economic collaboration.
Peter Navarro dismissed Musk's proposal, labeling him a 'car assembler' reliant on foreign parts and defending tariffs as a tool to bolster U.S. manufacturing.
Tesla's stock has fallen 19% since the announcement of sweeping tariffs, reflecting broader market instability and concerns over retaliatory trade measures.
Musk criticized Navarro's economic credentials on social media, though the posts were later deleted, intensifying the public nature of their disagreement.
Navarro denied any internal rift within the Trump administration, framing Musk's stance as self-serving and reiterating the administration's focus on reshoring manufacturing.