WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� President shopped for a new Tesla on the White House driveway on Tuesday, selecting a shiny red sedan to show his support for 's electric vehicle company because of his work to advance the president's political agenda and downsize the federal government.
鈥淲ow," Trump said as he eased his way into the driver's seat of a Model S. 鈥淭hat's beautiful.鈥�
Musk got in on the passenger side and joked about 鈥済iving the Secret Service a heart attack鈥� as they talked about how to start a vehicle that can reach 60 miles (95 kilometers) per hour in a few seconds.
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. The president also said he hopes his purchase will boost Tesla, which is struggling with sagging sales and declining stock prices.
鈥淚t's a great product,鈥� he said. Referring to Musk, Trump said 鈥渨e have to celebrate him.鈥�
It was the latest 鈥� and most unusual 鈥� example of how Trump has demonstrated loyalty to Musk, who spent heavily on his comeback campaign last year and has been a key figure in his second administration. Tesla's stock price increased nearly 4% on Tuesday after dropping almost 48% since Trump took office in January.
The Republican president announced on social media overnight that he was going to buy a new Tesla as 鈥渁 show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.鈥�
Musk continues to run Tesla 鈥� as well as and 鈥� while also serving as Trump's adviser.
鈥淓lon Musk is 鈥榩utting it on the line鈥� in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!" Trump wrote. "But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World鈥檚 great automakers, and Elon鈥檚 鈥榖aby,鈥� in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for.鈥�
Speaking later Tuesday at a business roundtable event, Trump said that Musk, the world's richest man, 鈥渟houldn't be scarified or have to suffer because he wants to help the government.鈥�
Others have also rallied to Musk's defense. Alex Jones, a prominent conspiracy theorist, said that he bought a customized version of a Cybertruck that he'll give away to a customer of his online store next month.
In addition to Tesla's struggles, Musk has faced other challenges too. He said X was targeted by a 鈥渕assive cyberattack鈥� on Monday, and the last two test launches of his Starship rocket .
Presidents almost never drive for security reasons. Joe Biden got behind the wheel of while promoting domestic manufacturing, and Barack Obama took a spin with Jerry Seinfeld in the White House driveway for a comedy show.
But regardless of the practicality of Trump's purchase, his overnight announcement about buying a Tesla represented another step in how the president has blurred lines between private and public interests.
During his first term, top adviser urged people to show their support for Trump鈥檚 daughter Ivanka by purchasing her retail products.
鈥淕o buy Ivanka鈥檚 stuff,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to give it a free commercial here.鈥�
Trump's wealth and business savvy is core to his political appeal. while running for office last year, and he attached his name to that launched shortly before he took office.
However, it's rare to see Trump use his own money to support an ally, no matter how important they are.
Musk is , with billions of dollars in government contracts. He's also exerting sweeping influence over Trump's administration through the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and traveling frequently with the president.
During an interview with the Fox Business Network on Monday, host Larry Kudlow asked Musk 鈥渉ow are you running your other businesses鈥� while also advising Trump.
鈥淲ith great difficulty,鈥� he said.
鈥淏ut there鈥檚 no turning back, you say?鈥� Kudlow responded.
鈥淚鈥檓 just here trying to make government more efficient, eliminate ,鈥� Musk said.
Tesla has recently faced protests and vandalism. Police are investigating gunshots fired at a dealership in Oregon, and fire officials are that destroyed four Cybertrucks at a Tesla lot in Seattle.
At times, the White House has needed to play cleanup for Musk, who had never worked in public service before and has admitted that .
For example, in government benefits like Social Security on Monday, leading Democrats to argue that he was planning cuts to the popular programs.
鈥淢ost of the federal spending is entitlements,鈥� Musk said in the interview. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the big one to eliminate.鈥�
The next morning, a White House account on X criticized news organizations as 鈥渓ying hacks鈥� and told Democrats to 鈥渟pare us the fake outrage" about reducing benefits.
鈥淗e was clearly talking about the WASTE in the programs," the White House posted.
Chris Megerian, The Associated Press
