Navarro Hits Back: Musk “Doesn’t Understand” Tariffs

“Every country around the world cheats us. But it’s like fingerprints — they all do it in different ways. But it all comes down to the non-tariff cheating. It was interesting to hear Elon Musk talk about a zero-tariff zone with Europe. He doesn’t understand that. And the thing that’s important about Elon to understand is, he sells cars. That’s what he does. 

“He’s in Texas, assembling cars that have big parts of that car from Mexico, China, the batteries come from Japan or China, The electronics come from Taiwan. And he’s simply protecting his own interests as any business person would do. 

“We’re more concerned about Detroit building with American engines. And that’s what this is all about. Look, Elon, he’s got X, he got a big microphone. We don’t mind him saying whatever he wants, but just the American people need to understand that we understand what that’s all about.” – Peter Navarro, after Musk attacked him because tariffs cost him $18 billion this week.