Navarro Downplays Feud with Musk After Insults Over Trade Policy

Peter Navarro insists relations with Elon Musk are fine, as the White House reframes their clash as a policy disagreement.

Peter Navarro stated on April 13, 2025, that 'everything was fine' with Elon Musk, despite the billionaire's earlier insults.
Elon Musk had called Navarro a 'cretin' and criticized his remarks about Tesla being merely an 'assembler' using imported parts from Asia.
Musk defended Tesla, claiming it has 'the most American content' among car manufacturers and mocked Navarro for citing the fabricated expert 'Ron Vara.'
The White House intervened to de-escalate the tension, framing the exchange as a difference in opinions on trade and tariffs rather than a personal feud.
Navarro's credibility has been questioned due to past revelations about his use of the fictitious expert 'Ron Vara' to support trade policy arguments.