Elon Musk appears to be distancing himself from the Trump administration’s stance on tariffs, criticizing trade adviser Peter Navarro and expressing a desire for a “zero tariff situation” between the US and Europe.
The comments came after President Trump unveiled broad tariffs on nearly all US trading partners last week. This move contributed to a stock market decline, which saw Musk’s net worth drop by $11 billion.
The world’s richest man took to social media on Saturday to publicly criticize Navarro, a key figure behind Trump’s tariff policies.
In a post on X, Musk said, “A PhD in Econ from Harvard is a bad thing, not a good thing. Results in the ego/brains>>1 problem,” in response to a user who praised Navarro’s tariff explanations.
Another user defended Navarro, calling his view on tariffs “correct,” to which Musk responded bluntly, “He ain’t built sh—.”
Musk’s remarks highlight a growing divergence between the billionaire entrepreneur and the former administration’s approach to trade policies, especially tariffs. His critique of Navarro, who has been a significant force in shaping the Trump-era tariff strategy, underscores Musk’s preference for less trade friction and an emphasis on fostering smoother international relations, particularly with Europe.
