Trump Buys Tesla Model S to Show Support for Elon Musk and EV Industry
Washington, D.C., The Gulf Observer: U.S. President Donald Trump purchased a red Tesla Model S on the White House driveway on Tuesday, expressing support for Tesla CEO Elon Musk amid challenges facing the electric vehicle company.
“Wow, that’s beautiful,” Trump remarked as he sat in the driver’s seat of the high-performance sedan, which can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles (95 kilometers) per hour in just a few seconds. Musk, who joined the president in the car, joked about “giving the Secret Service a heart attack” while discussing its features.
Trump stated that he would write a check for the vehicle, which retails for approximately $80,000, and leave it at the White House for his staff’s use. He expressed hope that the purchase would help Tesla, which has been struggling with declining sales and stock prices.
“It’s a great product,” Trump said. Referring to Musk, he added, “We have to celebrate him.”
The president’s move comes as Tesla faces backlash over Musk’s perceived alignment with Trump’s political agenda and his efforts to downsize federal government programs. Despite this, Musk remains a key figure in Trump’s second administration, serving as an advisor while continuing to lead Tesla, SpaceX, and social media platform X.
Trump took to social media to announce his purchase, calling it “a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.” He criticized what he described as an orchestrated effort by political opponents to boycott Tesla, calling such actions “illegal and collusive.”
“Elon Musk is ‘putting it on the line’ in order to help our nation, and he is doing a fantastic job!” Trump wrote.
At a business roundtable event later in the day, the president further defended Musk, stating that “he shouldn’t be sacrificed or have to suffer because he wants to help the government.”
Tesla’s stock saw a nearly 4% rise following the president’s endorsement, though it remains down almost 48% since Trump took office in January.
