On Tuesday, President Donald Trump browsed for a new Tesla on the White House driveway, choosing a sleek red sedan to demonstrate his backing of Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company. This gesture comes as Tesla faces criticism due to Musk’s efforts to support the president’s political agenda and reduce the size of the federal government.
“Wow,” Trump remarked as he settled into the driver’s seat of a Model S. “That’s beautiful.”
Musk joined him on the passenger side, quipping about “giving the Secret Service a heart attack” as they discussed how to operate a car capable of accelerating to 60 miles per hour (95 kilometers per hour) in just a few seconds.
Trump told reporters he would write a check for the vehicle, which has a retail price of around $80,000, and leave it at the White House for his staff to use. The president also expressed hope that his purchase would provide a boost to Tesla, which has been grappling with declining sales and falling stock prices.
Speaking at a business roundtable event later on Tuesday, Trump stated that Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, “shouldn’t be criticized or made to suffer for wanting to assist the government.”
Others have also come to Musk’s defense. Alex Jones, a well-known conspiracy theorist, revealed that he purchased a customized Cybertruck, which he plans to give away to a customer of his online store next month.
Beyond Tesla’s challenges, Musk has encountered additional difficulties. He reported that X, his social media platform, was hit by a massive cyberattack on Monday, causing disruptions. Additionally, the last two test launches of his Starship rocket ended in explosions.
For security reasons, presidents rarely drive themselves. Joe Biden once took the wheel of an electric truck to promote domestic manufacturing, and Barack Obama drove with Jerry Seinfeld in the White House driveway for a comedy show. See North Sea Collision Sparks Environmental Fears.
Regardless of the practicality of Trump’s purchase, his sudden announcement about buying a Tesla highlights yet another instance of how the president has blurred the lines between private and public interests.
