President Donald Trump has announced that he will purchase a Tesla to show support for DOGE head Elon Musk’s “baby”, as the electric car company faces declining stock prices and boycotts due to its billionaire CEO’s work with the White House.
Trump defends Musk against protests
Trump came to Musk’s defense against what he called the “Radical Left Lunatics,” who have staged nationwide protests against Tesla following Musk’s appointment as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency.
“To Republicans, Conservatives, and all great Americans, Elon Musk is ‘putting it on the line’ to help our nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!” Trump wrote on Truth Social shortly after midnight on Tuesday.
“But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the world’s great automakers, and Elon’s ‘baby,’ in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for.”
Trump pledges to buy a Tesla
The president said he will purchase a Tesla in the morning as a symbol of confidence in Musk, who also serves as the CEO of SpaceX and the social media platform X.
“In any event, I’m going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American,” he wrote. “Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???”
Tesla’s stock struggles amid protests
It remains unclear which Tesla model Trump intends to purchase.
The electric vehicle company’s stock has fallen nearly a third since Trump took office, despite an initial boost. Over the past month, Tesla shares have dropped by more than 28% and nearly 32% since January 1.
Anti-Musk protests and Tesla vandalism
Protests against Musk’s government cuts have taken place at Tesla dealerships across the country, including a Manhattan showroom, where six protesters were arrested on Saturday.
Additionally, a Tesla dealership in Colorado was vandalized last month when a 40-year-old woman allegedly spray-painted “Nazi cars” on the building and hurled Molotov cocktails at vehicles on the property.
Tesla owners have also reported vandalism targeting their vehicles. Some have replaced the Tesla logo with badges from other automakers in an attempt to deter vandals—and, in some cases, distance themselves from Musk’s political affiliations.
