Trump drops nearly $90,000 on ‘beautiful’ red Tesla car he won’t drive; 'patriot' Elon Musk plays salesman
Elon Musk in a high-profile event at the White House on Tuesday. The transaction took place on the South Lawn, where several Tesla models, including the Cybertruck, were on display. The President’s purchase was seen as an endorsement of Musk and his work, at a time when the billionaire is facing significant opposition.
Trump, seated inside the Model X, admired the vehicle, stating, «That's beautiful.» He later pointed to the model and confirmed it as his choice. Musk, who also serves as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), showed the President around the vehicles, highlighting the Cybertruck’s bulletproof exterior.
But experts warn the unusual presidential backing of a private company could backfire.
“Tesla is becoming a political symbol of Trump and DOGE, and that is a bad thing for the brand,” said Wedbush Securities financial analyst Dan Ives, referring to the advisory group in charge of cutting government spending led by Musk. “You think it’s helping, but it’s actually hurting.”
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Tesla's stock began rising from the opening Tuesday after Trump posted overnight on his Truth Social platform that Musk was “putting it on the line” to help the country. Trump claimed in the post that “Radical Left Lunatics” were attempting to “illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World’s great automakers, and Elon’s ’baby.'”
A few hours later, Tesla stock surged even higher as Trump announced at the White House that he had bought a Tesla himself.
Musk’s Growing Political Profile
Musk has been at the centre of controversy due to his role in implementing Trump’s planned reductions in the federal workforce through DOGE. The department has overseen mass layoffs, budget cuts, and expanded
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