WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he will purchase a new Tesla in a public show of support for the electric car company’s CEO, Elon Musk, who has become a central figure in his administration’s cost-cutting agenda.
Trump, in a late-night post on his Truth Social platform, praised Musk’s efforts, calling him a “truly great American” and accusing “Radical Left Lunatics” of colluding to boycott Tesla in an effort to damage the billionaire entrepreneur.
“I’m going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk,” Trump declared. “Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???”
Musk, who has been serving as head of the controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Trump’s leadership, responded on X with a brief thank-you message.
Since Trump’s return to the White House in January, Musk has led an aggressive campaign to slash federal spending and downsize government agencies.
The initiative has sparked widespread protests, legal challenges, and pushback from both lawmakers and constituents.
While Trump remains a staunch supporter of Musk, public sentiment has not been as favorable.
Polls indicate that Musk is viewed negatively by a significant portion of Americans, and his cost-cutting measures have put Republican lawmakers in difficult positions, with some facing backlash at town hall meetings.
Tesla, once the crown jewel of the electric vehicle market, has also been caught in the political crossfire.
Investors have grown increasingly wary of Musk’s close ties to Trump, fearing that his political activism could alienate buyers and deepen financial instability for the company.
Tesla shares have taken a major hit, plummeting over 15% on Monday amid broader market volatility linked to Trump’s economic policies, including uncertainty over import tariffs.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq also suffered a sharp decline, with major firms like Apple and Amazon seeing steep losses.
The automaker’s troubles extend beyond Wall Street. Sales in Europe have tumbled, particularly in Germany, where Tesla’s brand took a hit after Musk expressed support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party during its recent election campaign.
German Tesla sales fell more than 76% year-on-year in February, while overall sales in the European Union nearly halved in January.
The backlash has also turned violent. In March, a dozen Teslas were torched in an arson attack at a dealership in France, and several Tesla facilities in the U.S. have been vandalized.
Some longtime Tesla owners have distanced themselves from the brand, frustrated by Musk’s political entanglements and his promotion of conspiracy theories online.
Disgruntled customers have even affixed bumper stickers to their vehicles reading, “I bought this before Elon went crazy.”
