Trump turns the White House lawn into a Tesla showroom

Because of ethical restraints it is extremely rare for a senior government official, let alone a sitting president, to endorse a consumer product so explicitly. In 2017, when then-Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway told Americans to buy from Ivanka Trump’s clothing line, she received a warning from a government ethics office and promised never to do it again. 

By reviewing the Teslas in public before cameras, Trump ensured that his purchase would receive wide attention. Dan Scavino, a White House deputy chief of staff, livestreamed the event on X, the social media app owned by Musk. 

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the application of ethics rules.

Trump said he would pay for the vehicle by check. 

In his first weeks in office, Trump has increasingly moved away from the populist policies and messaging of both his first term and his campaigns, instead embracing the interests and agendas of his billionaire backers. Musk, in particular, has led the administration’s push to cut thousands of largely middle-class federal jobs, and Americans are seeing their retirement savings tank as the stock market plummets amid uncertainty over Trump’s policies. Yet it was Musk that Trump focused on boosting Tuesday.

Tesla, meanwhile, has faced an extended global backlash to Musk’s increasing role in politics, most notably for his role in slashing government jobs and recent promotion of far-right parties including Germany’s AfD. The company’s shares have declined every week since Musk went to Washington, and they fell 15% on Monday before rebounding Tuesday. Tesla facilities have faced a wave of both peaceful demonstrations and vandalism, including fires at charging stations. 

Asked whether his purchase might help Tesla’s stock, Trump said, “I hope it does.” 

Trump condemned the vandalism and heaped praise on the company. 

“They’re harming a great American company,” he said. Referring to Musk, he said: “He’s built this great company, and he shouldn’t be penalized because he’s a patriot.” 

Musk, standing next to Trump, said that Tesla planned to double vehicle output in the United States.

Musk is at the center of growing tension within the government about his role as a White House adviser and head of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency. The Trump administration is battling lawsuits that say Musk has exceeded his authority under the law and the Constitution, and members of Trump’s Cabinet have privately expressed frustrations about Musk’s involvement in their agencies.

Musk was a major financial supporter of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, spending more than a quarter of a billion dollars and making personal appearances on Trump’s behalf in the swing state Pennsylvania. Musk also turned X into a pro-Trump media platform.

In a post on Truth Social shortly after midnight, early Tuesday morning, Trump was unabashed in his reason for buying a Tesla. 

“I’m going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American,” he wrote. 

It’s not clear when, if ever, Trump would have the chance to drive a car of any kind unless he does so within the White House complex or similarly secure area. Presidents are driven around in a custom limousine with special security features. 

“I haven’t bought a new car in a long time,” Trump said.