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White House's weird reaction to Elon Musk-Peter Navarro feud stuns netizens; ‘Who is dumber?’

The White House press secretary addressed a question about Elon Musk's recent criticism of Peter Navarro, the trade adviser to President Donald Trump.

Updated on: Apr 9, 2025, 24:05:26 IST
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Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, addressed a question about Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's recent criticism of Peter Navarro, the trade adviser to President Donald Trump.

Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary (Bloomberg file)
Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary (Bloomberg file)

In a post on X, Musk referred to Navarro as “dumber than a sack of bricks” and “truly a moron” on Tuesday. Musk's response came after Navarro's statement on CNBC regarding Tesla's manufacturing process.

In an interview, Navarro referred to Tesla as a "car assembler" rather than a manufacturer due to the company's usage of parts manufactured abroad.

When asked about Trump's tariff plans, Navarro stated that he preferred to see these parts manufactured in the US going forward.

According to Musk, Navarro's claims were “demonstrably false.”

Also Read: Elon Musk's Tesla, SpaceX in danger? Hackers reveal shocking ‘full month’ plan to target DOGE head

White House addresses Elon Musk-Peter Navarro feud

“These are obviously two individuals who have very different views on trade and on tariffs,” Leavitt stated while reacting to a question concerning Elon Musk-Peter Navarro feud and how it would affect the public's perception of Trump's tariffs.

“Boys will be boys, and we will let their public sparring continue. You guys should all be very grateful that we have the most transparent administration in history,” she added.

During her weekly press conference, she went on to highlight Trump's “willingness to hear from all sides.” “He has people at the highest levels of this government, of this White House, who have very diverse opinions on very diverse issues. The president takes all opinions in mind, and then makes the best decision based on the best interest of the American public.”

Netizens react to WH Press Secy remarks

Expressing shock over the “boys will be boys” statement from the White House Press Secretary, one X user wrote: “To be fair, Elon spent 250m dollars to get Trump elected. Tesla stock has lost almost 20 billion in just the last few days. Who is dumber, Navarro or Musk?”

“This isn’t just unserious. It’s dangerous. These people are shaping global trade, and the only response to public dysfunction is to laugh it off,” another wrote.

"These people are government employees representing this country. Clown. Show, a third user commented.

Meanwhile, some netizens blasted Leavitt for claiming to stand for a transparent government, adding that “but when it comes to accountability, she’s as clear as mud and just as brave as a shadow.”

  • Shweta Kukreti
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Shweta Kukreti

    Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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