President Donald Trump made an unexpected move by purchasing a red Tesla Model S, a gesture seen as public support for Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company. The event took place on the White House driveway, where Trump and Musk stood together in a rare show of alignment between the two high-profile figures.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, Trump admired the vehicle’s design. “Wow, this is beautiful,” he remarked. Musk, who joined him in the passenger seat, joked about the car’s speed, noting that its rapid acceleration could “give the Secret Service a heart attack.”
Endorsing Tesla at a Crucial Time
Trump announced that he would personally buy the car, which costs around $80,000, and make it available for White House staff. “It’s an amazing product,” he told reporters. “We need to recognize him,” he added, referring to Musk.
This endorsement comes at a challenging time for Tesla. Since the beginning of Trump’s second term, the company’s stock has plummeted by nearly 48%. However, following the president’s announcement, Tesla’s shares saw a 4% increase. Trump expressed hope that his purchase would help boost confidence in the automaker.
Musk’s Growing Influence in Trump’s Administration
Musk has become a key figure in Trump’s second presidency, acting as an informal adviser while continuing to lead Tesla, the social media platform X, and SpaceX. Their close ties have sparked controversy, with critics arguing that Musk is using his business empire to push Trump’s policies.
In a late-night social media post, Trump defended his decision to buy a Tesla, calling it “a strong show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a true patriot.” He accused political opponents of unfairly targeting Musk and his companies.
“Elon Musk is putting everything on the line for our country, and he is doing an incredible job,” Trump wrote. “But the Radical Left is trying to take down Tesla, one of the world’s best automakers, just to attack Elon and his values.”
Defending Musk at a Business Roundtable
During a business forum later that day, Trump continued to praise Musk, saying that the billionaire “shouldn’t be punished just for wanting to help the government.”
Tesla’s troubles extend beyond politics. The company has been struggling with slowing sales and increased competition in the electric vehicle market. Meanwhile, Musk has faced additional challenges,his platform X recently suffered a major cyberattack, and SpaceX experienced back-to-back Starship rocket test failures.
Despite these hurdles, Trump’s public endorsement of Tesla signals his continued alliance with Musk at a time when both men are under political and business scrutiny.
