Tesla Garners Controversial Presidential Nod From Trump

Trump turned the White House lawn into a Tesla showroom recently as a show of support for Elon Musk and Tesla. Five Teslas were delivered and parked for Trump to check out. Standing next to Musk, he called them “beautiful” and especially liked the Cybertruck.

According to NBC News, Trump even went on to state - as soon as I saw it, I said, "That is the coolest design”.

Despite criticising electric cars (EVs) in the past, he said friends had told him good things about Tesla. He sat in a red Model S with Elon beside him and said he planned to buy one just like it. 

He didn’t take a test drive however, but said he might in the future. He also mentioned he would pay for the car by check.

It’s rare for a sitting president to endorse a product so openly. In 2017, Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway was warned for promoting Ivanka Trump’s clothing line. The White House did not comment on whether Trump’s Tesla showcase broke any ethics rules.

Dan Scavino, a top Trump aide, streamed the event live on Elon’s X social media platform promoting Senator Chris Murphy to criticise the event, calling it “corruption.”

Since taking office, Trump has focused less on populist policies and more on helping his billionaire allies. Elon has been pushing for major job cuts in the federal government, and investors are worried about Trump’s policies. As a result, Tesla’s stock has been falling, and the company is facing protests, including vandalism at charging stations.

When asked if his Tesla purchase might help the company’s stock, Trump said, “I hope it does.” He also condemned the vandalism, saying Elon “shouldn’t be penalized because he’s a patriot - a truly great American.”

Trump’s support for Tesla is a big contrast to the Biden administration, which once left Tesla out of an event about electric cars. Elon felt snubbed and later became a strong critic of Biden.

Standing beside Trump, Elon announced plans to double Tesla’s U.S. production. Meanwhile, Elon’s growing role in Trump’s administration is causing controversy. He has been sued for overstepping his authority and some Trump officials are unhappy with his influence.

Musk was a major donor to Trump’s campaign, spending over $250 million (RM1.1 billion) and helping promote him on X.

However, it’s unclear when Trump will actually get to drive his Tesla if he does buy one as all sitting presidents are usually chauffeured in armored limousines.