Due to ethical considerations, it is quite uncommon for high-ranking government officials, especially a sitting president, to overtly endorse a consumer product. In 2017, when then-Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway encouraged Americans to purchase items from Ivanka Trump’s clothing line, she faced a warning from a government ethics office and vowed not to do it again.
By showcasing the Teslas publicly in front of cameras, Trump made sure that his acquisition would garner significant attention. Dan Scavino, a deputy chief of staff at the White House, streamed the event live on X, the social media platform owned by Musk.
The White House has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the applicability of ethics regulations.
Trump stated he would pay for the vehicle via check.
In the early weeks of his administration, Trump has gradually shifted away from the populist policies and messaging that characterized both his initial term and campaigning, instead aligning more closely with the interests and agendas of his billionaire supporters. Musk, in particular, has spearheaded the administration’s efforts to eliminate thousands of predominantly middle-class federal jobs, while Americans have witnessed a decline in their retirement savings as the stock market falters due to uncertainties surrounding Trump’s policies. Nonetheless, it was Musk that Trump chose to highlight on Tuesday.
Tesla, on the other hand, has encountered extensive global backlash due to Musk’s increasing political engagement, especially regarding his initiatives to reduce government jobs and his recent support of far-right parties, including Germany’s AfD. The company’s stock has dropped weekly since Musk’s visit to Washington, and it saw a 15% decline on Monday before recovering slightly on Tuesday. Tesla facilities have also experienced a surge in both peaceful protests and vandalism, including incidents of fire at charging stations.
When asked if his purchase might positively influence Tesla’s stock, Trump replied, “I hope it does.”
During the event, Trump was seen holding a sheet of paper with notes about Tesla’s features, as depicted in photographs released by Getty Images. The notes seemed to resemble a sales pitch, highlighting that Teslas could be purchased for $299 a month and that all vehicles “have self-driving” — referring to the company’s suite of driver-assistance features, which are optional and still necessitate human supervision.
