To show his support for Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company, US President Donald Trump has bought a shiny red Tesla on Tuesday on the White House driveway.
This comes amid backlash faced by Musk for his dual role as Tesla CEO and Head of the Department of Government Efficiency under Trump’s administration.
“Wow,” Trump said as he eased his way into the driver’s seat of a Model S. “That’s beautiful.”
Musk, who got in on the passenger seat, joked about ‘giving the Secret Service a heart attack’ as they talked about how to start a vehicle that can reach 95 kilometres per hour in a few seconds.
According to AP, Trump told reporters that he would write a check for the car, which retails for roughly $80,000, and leave it at the White House so his staff can drive it. “I’m not allowed to drive because I haven’t driven a car in a long time. I love to drive cars. But I’m going to have it at The White House and I’m going to let my staff use it. I’m not allowed to use it,” Trump said.
Praising Tesla CEO, Trump wrote on X, Number one, it’s a great product, as good as it gets—and number two, because @ElonMusk has devoted his energy and his life to doing this and I think he has been treated very unfairly…”
Number one, it’s a great product, as good as it gets—and number two, because @ElonMusk has devoted his energy and his life to doing this and I think he has been treated very unfairly… pic.twitter.com/6qrfwrbT0f
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 12, 2025
What Musk Said?
On his part, Musk announced at the White House press conference that Tesla is going to double its vehicle output in the US as ‘an act of faith in America’.
He said, “As a function of the great policies of President Trump and his administration, and as an act of faith in America, Tesla is going to DOUBLE vehicle output in the United States within the next two years…”
Elon Musk: “As a function of the great policies of President Trump and his administration, and as an act of faith in America, Tesla is going to DOUBLE vehicle output in the United States within the next two years…” pic.twitter.com/g8jY77yxtP
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 12, 2025
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