Navarro defends Trump's tariffs as Musk calls for free trade
Peter Navarro, criticised by Elon Musk, a proponent of high tariffs and an advisor to President Donald Trump on trade, declared on Sunday that the owner of Tesla does not understand the mechanisms through which other countries "cheat" the USA in trade matters, reported the Axios portal.
In a Sunday interview with Fox News, Navarro reiterated the earlier claim that the United States is facing "cheating" by other countries, including applying significant trade barriers other than tariffs and dumping prices of goods. Musk "doesn't understand this", although "he is great" in his work at the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) - assessed Navarro.
Elon when he’s in his DOGE lane is great, but we understand what’s going on here. Elon sells cars. He’s simply protecting his own interests - noted the economist.
Musk has a "big microphone"
Navarro emphasised that there is no conflict between Musk and the Trump administration. - There’s no rift here. Look, Elon, he’s got X, he’s got a big microphone. We don’t mind him saying whatever he wants - admitted the presidential advisor.
The day before, Musk spoke out against tariffs (the US president imposed them last week on foreign goods suppliers). During an online speech at the Italian right-wing League congress of Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, Musk stated that he would prefer a world based on free trade, which is the kind of advice he gives President Trump.
The world's richest person, arguing on portal X with a Navarro supporter, responded, "A PhD in Econ from Harvard is a bad thing, not a good thing. Results in the ego/brains>>1 problem." When attempting to argue with his interlocutor, Musk retorted that the presidential advisor "hasn't built a damn thing."
