In a surprising turn of events, President Donald Trump transformed a White House press event into what many are calling an unofficial Tesla endorsement. The timing? Pretty questionable—just one day after Tesla’s stock tanked, wiping out billions in market value.
Critics wasted no time connecting the dots: Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been a loud Trump supporter and a big political donor. With the 2024 election in the rearview mirror and his presidency moving full steam ahead, was this just Trump backing American innovation or a well-timed favor for a friend?
From Stock Crash to Presidential Endorsement
Tesla’s stock took a brutal 15% beating yesterday, pushing its total slide to nearly 50% from its December peak. Investors have been nervous about slowing sales, tougher competition, and regulators breathing down Tesla’s neck.
Then, just hours after the stock crashed, President Trump jumped on Truth Social with a fiery post calling Tesla boycotts “illegal” and hinting he might buy a Tesla himself. That alone sent social media into a frenzy—but today’s White House event took things to a whole new level.
A Public Show of Support—With a Few Twists
Standing in front of a row of gleaming Teslas outside the White House, Trump announced he’s buying a Tesla Model S Plaid—Tesla’s souped-up luxury sedan.
There was one catch: As president, Trump can’t actually drive due to security rules. Instead, White House staff would be the ones behind the wheel.
The scene felt almost bizarre. This is the same Trump who spent years trashing EVs, questioning if they’d leave you stranded, and rolling back clean energy policies. But today? Complete turnaround. He couldn’t stop praising Tesla’s tech and talking up American manufacturing innovation.
Some folks think he’s genuinely changed his mind about electric cars. Others aren’t buying it. With Musk’s political connections to Trump as obvious as a neon sign, is this just another chapter in their buddy story?
Fact-Checking the Talking Points
While Trump’s Tesla love-fest made headlines, eagle-eyed photographers spotted something else—his briefing notes. Among the Tesla-friendly talking points were some pretty misleading claims about Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.
According to those notes, Tesla vehicles already have full self-driving capabilities and need a software update to unlock them. The problem? That’s stretching the truth thin.
Here’s what’s really going on:
- Tesla’s FSD is still just a Level 2 driver-assistance system—meaning you better keep your hands on the wheel.
- It doesn’t make Teslas fully autonomous, no matter what people might think.
- Tesla itself says drivers, not the company, are on the hook for any accidents while using FSD.
Seeing these exaggerated claims at an official White House event only added fuel to the fire of concerns about overselling Tesla’s capabilities.
Did It Help Tesla’s Stock?
Trump’s public backing did give Tesla a quick boost, with shares jumping 5% right after the event. By closing bell, though, Tesla had settled with a modest 3.8% gain—nowhere near enough to make up for yesterday’s bloodbath.
What Happens Next?
Trump’s sudden Tesla embrace has people wondering what’s coming. Will this lead to special treatment for Tesla? Could Musk’s friendship with Trump translate into government contracts or regulatory breaks?
Or was this just a random bit of political theater?
Whatever happens next, one thing’s crystal clear—Tesla’s relationship with the White House has never been more in the spotlight.
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Hey, I’m Badal I enjoy writing blogs, articles, and engaging content for websites. Creativity is at the heart of everything I do, whether it’s coding, designing, music, or crafting compelling content. I hope you enjoy reading my blogs and articles as much as I enjoy creating them!
