Elon Musk Trump Tariff: ‘Boys will be boys’ White House reacts to Trump aides Elon Musk-Peter Navarro tariff feud

Elon Musk vs Peter Navarro: The move by Trump to impose tariffs has resulted in a market sell-off and share markets across the world have plunged to a record low level.

By: Express Web Desk

Updated: April 9, 2025 01:27 PM IST

2 min read

Musk, the world’s richest person and Trump’s top donor, has been at the helm of the newly created DOGE—a free-ranging task force charged with slashing bureaucracy, eliminating waste, and rooting out what Trump calls “deep state corruption.” (File Photo)

Elon Musk Peter Navarro Controversy: The trade war ignited by US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariff has led top presidential advisers billionaire Elon Musk and Peter Navarro feud in public, as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shrugged the issue in a media briefing on Tuesday declaring that “boys will be boys.”

Musk, who is leading Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and long-time Trump trade adviser Navarro, have been taking potshots at each other publicly over the weekend as Trump implemented the sweeping reciprocal tariffs on almost all its global trading partners ranging from 10% to 50%, while China facing a jumbo 104% levy on its goods.

The move by Trump has resulted in a market sell-off and share markets across the world have plunged to a record low level, triggering analysts to wonder if the United States is headed into a recession.

When asked by a reporter what does the White House have to say regarding the feud between Musk and Navarro, press secretary Leavitt said, “Look, these are obviously two individuals who have very different views on trade and on tariffs.”
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1909604085025956133
Adding to the statement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said “Boys will be boys and we will let their public sparring continue.”

Earlier, during an interview with CNBC, Navarro had dismissed the remarks made by Musk where the latter had called for “zero tariffs” between the United States and Europe, and called the billionaire entrepreneur a “car assembler” who is reliant on imported parts.

Musk, while targeting Navarro, had posted on X “Navarro is truly a moron. What he says here is demonstrably false.”

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