Trump’s Tesla Turn: A Spark for Musk or a Political Collision?
The political landscape buzzed this week as former President Donald Trump threw his weight behind Elon Musk and Tesla, igniting a firestorm of reactions across the political spectrum. Trump’s actions, which included a high-profile visit to the White House with Tesla vehicles, came after Tesla faced a dip in stock prices and a wave of protests at its showrooms nationwide.
The move has been interpreted by many as a calculated effort to bolster both Musk and the electric vehicle industry, but critics have seized upon the event as a blatant display of favoritism and a potential conflict of interest.
Tesla’s stock saw a rebound on Tuesday following Trump’s endorsement, a welcome sign for investors after a rocky start to the week. The surge in stock value coincided with the ongoing protests at Tesla showrooms across the country, protests that appeared to be gaining momentum, threatening to damage the company’s brand and sales.
Democrats swiftly condemned Trump’s actions, accusing him of essentially turning the White House into a Tesla advertisement. DNC Chair Ken Martin didn’t mince words, expressing his outrage in a post on X, suggesting that Trump was prioritizing the interests of the wealthy while ordinary Americans struggle with economic hardship.
Fox News’ Peter Doocy pressed Trump on the optics of promoting Tesla while many Americans are grappling with financial uncertainty and dwindling retirement savings. Trump responded by defending his tariffs on foreign goods, framing them as necessary to revitalize the American economy.
Trump also remarked on the potential of the American economy, and his need to bring jobs back and reopen factories. He claimed that numerous factories and plants had closed and he wanted to restore them. He emphasized that he wants to get workers back and factories opened.
Trump’s open support for Musk and Tesla, including a symbolic "purchase" of a red Tesla Model S at the White House, drew immediate and fierce criticism from leading Democrats, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren. She argued that Trump was prioritizing a "car salesman" act while Americans faced soaring grocery prices, skyrocketing housing costs, and plummeting retirement savings.
The Democratic National Committee echoed Warren’s sentiments, accusing Musk of using taxpayer money to host a "car sale" at the White House while simultaneously cutting funding for schools and planning to lay off a significant number of VA workers.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) went even further, posting a photo of Trump and Musk alongside the Tesla, branding their association as representative of the "most corrupt administration in American history."
House Whip Rep. Katherine Clark also criticized Trump’s actions, claiming that he hosted a "Tesla car show" at the White House for his "biggest donor" while Republicans were voting to strip health care away from families and veterans.
Adding fuel to the fire, an image of Trump holding handwritten notes about the Tesla vehicles circulated widely, drawing comparisons to President Joe Biden, who was often criticized for relying on note cards during public events. Democratic strategist Chris D. Jackson questioned whether the media would scrutinize Trump’s use of notes as intensely as they had scrutinized Biden’s.
Trump, however, brushed off the criticism, claiming he didn’t "need notes" and taking a jab at Biden’s perceived reliance on them. He even went as far as to suggest Biden wouldn’t even be able to get into the car.
Despite the backlash from the left, Musk appeared to be reveling in the attention and support. He shared a side-by-side photo contrasting Biden’s snub of Tesla at a 2021 electric vehicle summit with the image of Teslas prominently displayed at the White House.
Musk also reposted a clip of a CNN contributor defending him, arguing that Musk was "unfairly under attack" and that Tesla was being unfairly targeted. The CNN contributor also mentioned instances of protesters targeting Tesla owners and vehicles.
Conservatives quickly rallied to Trump’s defense, pointing out that Biden had previously promoted Jeep’s hybrid vehicle, and reminding liberals they didn’t object to that. They also emphasized Tesla’s status as a leading American manufacturer, highlighting that Tesla vehicles sold in America are built in America by American workers.
Trump himself announced his intention to buy a Tesla, framing it as a show of support for Musk.
He stated that Musk is fighting to help the nation, and that radical leftists were attempting to illegally boycott Tesla in order to attack Musk.
Trump’s support for Musk came in the wake of escalating protests against Tesla, including instances of vandalism at showrooms. These demonstrations reportedly began as protests against Musk’s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency and federal workforce reductions.
Musk condemned the violence against Tesla owners and supporters, describing the attacks as "terrible." Sen. Marsha Blackburn echoed this sentiment, arguing that Musk and his companies were being targeted for "putting Americans first."
Several Republican House members called for investigations into the vandalism cases, with Trump labeling the attacks as "domestic terrorism."
