Trump buys Tesla to 'make a statement' about Musk backlash
President Trump said Tuesday he was buying a Tesla vehicle as he doubled down on his support of Elon Musk, who has come under mounting scrutiny for leading the Trump administration's government cost initiatives.
"I'm going to buy because number one, it's a great product. As good as it gets. Number two, because this man [Elon Musk] has devoted his energy and his life to doing this, and I think he has been treated unfairly," Trump told reporters outside the White House in the afternoon.
Trump delivered the remarks alongside Musk and his son, just hours after he first announced on social media he would buy a Tesla in support of the tech entrepreneur. Multiple Teslas, including the Cybertruck model, were parked outside the White House.
Tesla’s stock has plummeted more than 50 percent since late last year and suffered its largest drop in more than four years. It follows a string of protests at Tesla warehouses across the country from demonstrators calling out Musk's leadership of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the mass layoffs and spending cuts associated with it.
Some Tesla vehicles have been vandalized on the streets, while some Tesla owners have put bumper stickers displaying messages like “I bought it before Elon went nuts.”
Trump floated the idea of labelling the Tesla dealership protesters as "domestic terrorists."
When asked about some of the suggestions that some should be labeled as domestic terrorists, Trump responded, "I will do that, I'll do it. I'm going to stop them."
Musk acknowledged the toll his political career had taken on his business empire, telling Fox Business host Larry Kudlow in a Monday interview he has been overseeing Tesla and SpaceX "with great difficulty."
Trump touted the work of DOGE and Musk on Tuesday, telling reporters, "I just want people to know that you can't be penalized for being a patriot, and he's a great patriot, and he's also done an incredible job with Tesla."
"I mean, nobody else has a car company started up in the last 30 years that's been successful, I don't think so," Trump said, adding, "But because he's finding all sorts of terrible things that have taken place against our country, we want to penalize him in an economic sense. And I just think that's very unfair. So I just wanted to make a statement. I'm going to buy one now."
Trump later sat in a red Model X Tesla and said, "That's beautiful." He later pointed to the model and stated that this was his pick. Musk and the president also walked to a Cybertruck, during which Musk remarked the car is bulletproof.
Trump clarified he will not be driving the Tesla because he is not permitted to drive, but he will allow his staff at the White House to use it.
Musk also announced Tesla plans to double vehicle output in the United States within the next two years, calling it an "act of faith in America."
Some investors have called out Musk for spending more time in Washington to work on DOGE at the expense of his other companies.
When asked if he would remain the CEO of Tesla while working with Trump, Musk said, "Yeah, I am CEO of Tesla and yeah."
Musk later said he would "stay as long as it's useful" when asked how long he plans to work with the government.
Updated at 4:14 p.m. EDT
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