U.S. President Donald Trump was photographed clutching a handwritten word with costs of quite a few Tesla fashions written on it whereas buying one of many electrical autos from Elon Musk on the garden of the White House on Tuesday.
On the morning of the sale, the president introduced on Reality Social that he could be shopping for a Tesla from Musk as a “present of confidence” within the billionaire tech entrepreneur.
“To Republicans, Conservatives, and all nice Individuals, Elon Musk is ‘placing it on the road’ as a way to assist our Nation, and he’s doing a FANTASTIC JOB!” he wrote.
The transfer comes days after a wave of anti-Tesla protests swept by means of the U.S. and components of Europe, ensuing within the burning of numerous vehicles in France and harm to a showroom in New York Metropolis.
Accompanied by Musk, and after some deliberation, the president opted for a pink Mannequin S, which, in accordance with his word, is value US$108,990 in blue.
President Donald Trump and White Home senior advisor, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk sit in a Tesla Mannequin S on the South Garden of the White Home on March 11, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Trump spoke out towards requires a boycott of Elon Musk’s corporations and stated he would buy a Tesla car in what he calls a ‘present of confidence and assist’ for Elon Musk.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures
Serving U.S. presidents will not be permitted to drive, however that didn’t cease Trump from leaping into the entrance seat of the stationary car, one in a line of 4 parked on the South Garden of the White Home, showroom-style.
President Donald Trump, accompanied by White Home senior advisor, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, and his son X Æ A-Xii, speaks subsequent to a Tesla Mannequin Y, a Cybertruck, and two Mannequin S autos on the South Garden of the White Home on March 11, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures
“Watch Secret Service go loopy,” the president stated earlier than opening the automobile door.
Whereas Trump didn’t begin his car of alternative, he was fast to admire its inside.
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“All the things’s pc,” he stated in reference to the Mannequin S working system. “That’s lovely, wow,” he continued, as Musk hopped within the passenger aspect.
Through the occasion, Trump advised the press the final automobile he bought was a Cybertruck for his 17-year-old granddaughter, Kai.
“She’s a fantastic golfer, and she or he places the golf equipment within the again and I suppose it’s a really secure deal, she loves it,” he stated.
The president referred to his worth sheet a number of occasions all through the interplay.
“I’ve a variety of info, together with the value,” the president stated, briefly waving the word round within the air as he spoke.
“I wanna make an excellent deal right here.”
President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk communicate to the press as they stand subsequent to a Tesla Cybertruck on the South Portico of the White Home on March 11, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP through Getty Pictures)
The president’s endorsement of the corporate follows a period of steep decline for Tesla. Its inventory has tumbled in latest weeks as world gross sales drop off and contempt for its founder and his involvement within the Trump administration swells.
Nevertheless, Trump’s automobile salesman stunt could have prompted some to purchase in.
Fox Information host Sean Hannity shared on X Tuesday night that he had ordered a model new “self driving” Tesla.
Tesla is the MOST American made automobile within the nation! #AmericaFirst #AmericanJobs!! https://t.co/VvRXMrkdOE
— Sean Hannity
(@seanhannity) March 11, 2025
The president’s backing of Tesla, which makes a speciality of producing electrical autos (EVs), contravenes earlier feedback he has made about EVs through the years.
In September 2023, Trump bashed electrical automobiles, saying they had been “the thought of the Radical Left Fascists, Marxists, & Communists.”
On Tuesday, he accused “Radical Left Lunatics” of “attempting to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla.”
Throughout his inaugural address, Trump vowed to “revoke the electrical car mandate, saving our auto trade.”
The Biden administration by no means carried out an EV mandate, although it did incentivize shopping for them and encourage producers to concentrate on producing electrical autos.
The president has additionally proven assist for electrical autos previously.
In 2020, on the South Garden of the White Home, he congratulated Lordstown Motors on its 2021 Endurance car, a full-size electric pickup truck.
“This can be a nice expertise,” he stated.
Equally, throughout a rally in Atlanta in August 2024, Trump stated, “I’m for electrical automobiles. I’ve to be as a result of Elon endorsed me very strongly.”
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