PRESIDENT Donald Trump bought a Tesla on the White House lawn on Tuesday in an outlandish display of support for CEO Elon Musk following recent backlash.
Musk brought an entire fleet of electric vehicles to the White House lawn to let the president have his pick of the litter for the purchase.
Trump’s support for his advisor comes after Tesla faced backlash and vandalism over Musk’s new role in the Oval Office.
As the head of Trump’s brand new Department of Government Efficiency, Musk has slashed federal jobs and budgets in Trump’s first few months of his second term.
Growing fears and concerns over Doge’s plans have sparked a series of attacks on Tesla across the country, including vandalism at Tesla showrooms and charging stations.
Over the past few weeks, protestors have gathered at multiple Tesla locations as people carry signs and shout chants, lashing out at Musk for his role in the Trump administration.
The company is also facing dropping sales for the first time as Americans are boycotting the auto giant in what protestors are calling “Tesla takedowns.”
Tesla stock has lost more than half its stock since peaking in December – wiping out over $800 billion from the company’s total value, according to CNBC.
In the face of the backlash, the president announced on Tuesday morning that he would buy a Tesla as “a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.”
In his Truth Social post, Trump accused leftists of trying to “illegally and collusively boycott Tesla.”
“The attacks on Elon by the radical left are not just attacks on him, but on this incredible American company and the workers who make these spectacular cars,” Trump said at the White House.
He said Musk has been treated “very unfairly by a very small group of people.”
He added that he plans to classify the attacks on dealerships as domestic terrorism.
On Tuesday afternoon, videos shared to X showed Trump walking next to at least four different Teslas, including a Cybertruck, arranged on the South Portico of the White House.
Musk’s son X Æ A-Xii also joined the Doge head while the powerful duo talked over Trump’s options.
While speaking at the White House, the billionaire also said Tesla will double its vehicle output in the US over the next two years.
Trump and Musk were seen smiling and chopping it up on the lawn as the two celebrated the big purchase by sitting in the cars and speaking to reporters.
The two men have a long and complicated relationship that initially started with a feud before boiling down into an apparent friendship.
Trump often speaks highly of Musk and even previously reversed his stance on electric vehicles due to their relationship.
The president appointed Musk as the head of Doge in November, just a week after winning the election, and hasn’t looked back.
FULL-FLEDGED PURCHASE
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt joked at a briefing on Tuesday that the president, a native New Yorker, was excited to drive again.
As the vehicles were being transported to the White House, Leavitt said it was a “very exciting moment.”
She insisted Trump would pay the full market price for the car.
Pictures from the White House showed Trump reviewing a handwritten note of Tesla’s pricing on his presidential stationary.
He has a choice between a silver Model X, a gray CT, a blue Model S, and a red Model Y, according to the sheet
A handwritten note at the bottom of the page said Teslas can be bought for as low as $299 a month or $35,000.
“All cars have self-driving, just needs to be turned on,” the note added.
Donald Trump’s post on Truth Social
President Donald Trump announced his plans to buy a Tesla in a post on Truth Social just after midnight on March 11.
“To Republicans, Conservatives, and all great Americans, Elon Musk is ‘putting it on the line’ in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!” Trump wrote.
“But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World’s great automakers, and Elon’s “baby,” in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for.
“They tried to do it to me at the 2024 Presidential Ballot Box, but how did that work out?
“In any event, I’m going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.
“Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???”
Source: Truth Social
‘BAD NEWS’
Trump shared a video on Truth Social saying the Tesla Model S is “beautiful.”
When asked if he wanted to buy or lease a car, which prompted a laugh from reporters on the lawn, Trump said he plans to buy.
He also admitted the “bad news” – he’s not allowed to drive the car himself.
“I haven’t driven a car in a long time,” Trump said, adding that he loves driving.
The president said he’ll keep the car at the White House and let his staff drive it.
“I’m not allowed to use it, can you believe it?” he said.
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