On Tuesday afternoon, in front of the White House, Donald Trump was noticed sitting in a Red Tesla Model S with Elon Musk, enjoying the vehicle. Trump said, “Oh, it’s beautiful. Wow. That’s, that’s beautiful,” as he showed increasing enthusiasm for the vehicle.
At a White House event, Trump confirmed his decision to purchase a Tesla, citing two reasons: “Because, number one, it’s a great product, as good as it gets, and number two.” Later, Trump reaffirmed his intention to buy a Tesla on Truth Social, showing support for Musk, writing, “In any event, 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.”
Trump also announced plans to buy his 17-year-old granddaughter, Kai, a Tesla Cybertruck. The Cybertruck, an electric all-futuristic pickup truck, begins at almost $80,000. The snapshot during the event also included Trump’s written note of Tesla’s prices, stating Teslas were available to purchase for as little as $299 per month or starting at $35,000.
Though the Inflation Reduction Act provides incentives for electric vehicle purchases in the form of tax credits, it is uncertain whether Trump would be eligible because of income restrictions. Trump’s annual salary as President is $400,000, though he previously stated in 2016 he would accept a $1 salary for his first term, and it is not known if this will hold for a second term.
On Truth Social, Trump blasted the ‘Radical Left Lunatics’ for trying to ‘illegally and collusively boycott Tesla’, labeling it as an attempt to hurt both Musk and his brand. Tesla’s stock has also suffered greatly, plummeting 55% since its high in December, closing at $230.58 on Tuesday.
