WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump made a striking display of allegiance to Elon Musk’s Tesla on Tuesday by choosing a gleaming red Tesla Model S from the White House driveway. This decision, made to express solidarity with Musk’s electric vehicle firm amidst political controversies, saw Trump marveling at the car, exclaiming, “Wow, that’s beautiful,” as he sat in the driver’s seat.
As Musk joined him in the passenger seat, he humorously commented about potentially startling the Secret Service with the car’s swift acceleration to 60 miles per hour in seconds. Trump informed reporters of his intent to purchase the vehicle, priced around $80,000, intending to keep it at the White House for staff usage. He expressed hopes that his endorsement might aid Tesla at a challenging time, as the company’s sales and stock values have been on the decline.
Recognizing Musk as a significant contributor to his political resurgence and current administration, Trump labeled his latest action as a distinctive show of support. Following Trump’s announcement of the purchase as a gesture of confidence in Musk, Tesla’s stock rebounded by nearly 4% after experiencing a steep decline since January.
Beyond his Tesla venture, Musk manages both the X social media platform and SpaceX, while acting as a key advisor to Trump. On social media, Trump praised Musk for his contributions, noting efforts to thwart supposed boycotts against Tesla from political adversaries.
During a business roundtable later that day, Trump emphasized Musk’s dedication, quoting him as unwilling to suffer for wanting to aid the government. Alongside these struggles, Musk faced a cyberattack on X and testing failures with SpaceX’s Starship rockets.
Historically, security concerns largely prevent presidents from driving, with previous exceptions such as Joe Biden’s drive in an electric truck to champion domestic manufacturing, and Barack Obama’s comedic ride-along with Jerry Seinfeld.
Trump’s Tesla announcement is the latest instance of his merging private with public roles. Similar tendencies were seen during his first term when Kellyanne Conway publicly promoted Ivanka Trump’s retail merchandise, urging people to support her brand.
Trump’s affluence and business acumen have always bolstered his political image. This was evident in his self-promotion during the campaign, and his association with a cryptocurrency meme coin launched soon before his presidency.
With Musk’s extensive network of government contracts, his standing as the world’s wealthiest individual grants him considerable sway within Trump’s administration, notably through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Despite frequent travels with Trump, Musk candidly disclosed challenges in balancing his entrepreneurial duties whilst advising the president.
Tesla’s confrontations extend to broader societal issues, facing vandalism and protests, with incidents including gunfire at an Oregon dealership and a Seattle fire destroying several Cybertruck units.
The White House has occasionally had to clarify Musk’s statements, who, without prior government experience, admits to mistakes in public service. Recently, Musk’s comments on inflated fraud figures within government benefits drew Democrat criticism, prompting White House intervention. The administration clarified Musk’s intentions focused on reducing waste rather than eliminating entitlements.
