We don’t imagine many of you had the front lawn of the White House being turned into a Tesla showroom with its own sales pitch on your 2025 bingo card.
Then again, we don’t imagine Elon Musk taking to the stage with a gilded chainsaw or RFK promoting Vitamin A to combat measles were on their either.
President Donald Trump has warned that those who mess with Tesla will be dealt with as domestic terrorists, although others have warned that aligning the POTUS with the electric vehicle brand could be bad for all involved.
With Tesla stocks taking a worrying hit and Elon Musk losing $29 billion from his net worth in a single day, the President swooped in and even got behind the wheel of a shiny red Tesla Model S. The Commander-in-Chief had already vowed to buy a Tesla, and seemingly staying true to his word, he said he’d hand over the expected $90,000 to have one.
The President promised to buy a new Tesla (Tesla)
However, Wired points out that the President’s new motor has faced some 37 recalls due to safety complaints.
The site reiterates that while the Model S boasts some beefy 1,020 horsepower and can race from zero to 60 in 1.99 seconds, it’s also got a questionable log book.
Trump’s specific car is the ‘Plaid’ version Model S, which has improved acceleration and gets its namesake from a nerdy pop culture reference.
The Plaid editions are named after a moment in Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs where ships hit ‘Ludicrous Speed’ and a plaid-patterned effect appears.
Unfortunately for the Tesla Model S vehicles, there have been 37 U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recalls.
The most recent was in January 2025, with a mention that the “computer circuit board may short, resulting in the loss of the rearview camera image,” and this could lead to an increase in crashes. Trump himself became a memeworthy soundbite when he sat in the Model S and said, “Everything’s computer.”
The POTUS was impressed with the tech in his new motor (The Washington Post / Contributor / Getty)
Previous reports include problems with everything from the airbags to power-steering assist, door handles, brake discs, and even the Model S’ much-hyped self-driving feature.
In 2023, Tesla issued a voluntary recall for all models using the Full Self-Driving feature. Issues included not properly stopping at a stop sign, speeding, and making unexpected lane changes.
It should be noted that an increase in the futuristic tech found in modern vehicles means recalls for major brands like BMW and Chrysler have also been on the up in recent years.
One thing not on the up is Tesla sales.
Despite Trump’s Tesla showcase leading to a nearly 4% surge in stocks, the numbers speak for themselves, as Tesla sales are 76.3% down compared to February 2024. Although there’s been an anomalous 20% rise in the UK compared to the same month last year, the continued Tesla boycott and animosity toward Mr. Musk look like they’re starting to take a toll on the bottom line.
Featured Image Credit: Andrew Harnik / Staff / Getty
Shocking amount Tesla stock has risen by after Donald Trump turned White House lawn into Tesla showroom
It comes after a historic drop in the company’s stocks
Tesla stock has reacted after Donald Trump and Elon Musk turned the White House lawn into a ‘Tesla showroom’ yesterday.
Full-time President of the United States, part-time Tesla salesman, it seems Donald Trump is trying to do it all. While the POTUS once said that electric vehicle owners can ‘rot in hell’, it was all smiles as President Trump sat behind the wheel of his new red Tesla Model S in front of the White House. Turning his office into its very own Tesla showroom, Trump stood firmly by Tesla’s side and defended the electric vehicle brand over recent controversy.
Alongside some vowing to boycott Tesla, others have taken it further by damaging vehicles and electric chargers, while police in Oregon confirmed a dealership was damaged by gunfire during a recent anti-Tesla protest.
Musk and Trump represented a united front when promoting Tesla in front of the White House (Andrew Harnik / Staff / Getty)
It’s true that the President once owned a Tesla Roadster, but in the aftermath of rolling back the Biden administration’s EV plans, you might not think he’s Tesla’s No. 1 fan. Of course, the closeness of Elon Musk to the White House and the endorsement of Trump suggest it’s in everyone’s interest to try and keep Tesla’s wheels greased.
The President has said those who are targeting Tesla will be dealt with as ‘domestic terrorists’, and although Tesla stocks have taken a recent beating, it seems Trump’s sales pitch is working.
March 10 saw Tesla wipe $127 billion off its worth in a one-day ‘market bloodbath’ – marking its worst recordings since 2020. In general, Tesla stocks are down 50% since December 2024. Since peaking on December 17, Tesla has recorded seven straight weeks of losses, knocked around $800 billion from its market cap, and lost its trillion-dollar status.
Considering Trump entered the White House on January 20 and Musk has cemented himself as a key member of his counsel, it feels like more than a bit of a coincidence that Tesla stocks have started to tumble during this period.
There’s been some bounce back, with TSLA stocks rising by 3.79% in the past 24 hours.
Speaking at the White House event, Musk was looking at the future of Tesla and cheered: “As a function of the great policies of President Trump and his administration, and as an act of faith in America, Tesla is going to double vehicle output in the United States within the next two years.”
Tesla stocks are slowly climbing from their recent lows (Google)
Could this be the start of Tesla’s return to form? Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas left a note to clients, telling potential investors now’s the time to buy: “Tesla shares have fallen 50% from the Dec 17th highs (and down 45% YTD) on poor sales data, negative brand sentiment, and market de-grossing. We see the pullback as a buying opportunity for an embodied AI compounder.”
Jonas points to upcoming ‘milestones’ like the robotaxi testing in Austin, an update on Tesla’s Optimus robots, and new federal rules on regulating autonomous vehicles as key deciders for Tesla stock.
Even though the stocks are back on the incline, Wedbush Securities financial analyst Dan Ives has warned that associating Tesla with the Trump administration could be bad for the brand in the long run.
Trump has suggested that a Tesla boycott is ‘illegal’, although that’s not actually the case. Either way, the President and Mr. Musk are doing everything in their power to ‘make Tesla great again’.
Featured Image Credit: Andrew Harnik / Staff / Getty
Donald Trump says people who ‘mess with’ Tesla will be put ‘through hell’ as he turns White House into Tesla showroom
Don’t mess with Musk
There’s plenty of unrest in both Washington and the stock market, with Tesla taking a hit due to the controversial nature of Elon Musk.
The self-appointed ‘First Buddy’ is firmly by the side of President Donald Trump, and while he remains steadfast in his mission to cut $2 trillion from federal spending, many are asking, at what cost?
We’ve seen Tesla stocks tumble in recent weeks, while Musk himself lost $29 billion in a single day.
While he’s still far and away the richest man in the world, a defeated-looking Musk has defended his role as the head of the DOGE.
Those close to Musk have rallied behind Tesla, with Maye Musk calling out a recent spate of vandalism against the EV brand. President Trump has also defended ‘Elon’s baby’ and vowed to buy a brand-new Tesla in an attempt to boost the automobile maker’s popularity.
Trump has vowed to make Tesla ‘great’ again (The Washington Post / Contributor / Getty)
Briefly turning the White House into a Tesla showroom, Trump did his best to boost the brand as he appeared outside the iconic building with Musk and his cars firmly by his side. Saying that those damaging Teslas will be treated as ‘domestic terrorists’, the POTUS went on to refer to Tesla as “a great American company” and promised to put vandals ‘through hell’. Posing in front of several Tesla models and a beefy Cybertruck, Trump was seen holding a price list for all the various models.
When asked about whether those targeting Tesla are ‘domestic terrorists’, Trump continued: “I’ll do it. I’m going to stop them… because they’re harming a great American company. I’ve stuck up for a lot of American companies.
“I do favors for all… when you heard an American company, especially a company like this, applies so many jobs that others are unable to do, when you do that, those people are going to go through a big problem when we catch them.”
Saying that they’ve got a lot of cameras up, Trump claims he already knows who some of these people are: “We’re going to catch up, and they’re bad guys. They’re the same guys that screw around with our schools and universities. The same garbage.
“And no, we’re going to catch them, and let me tell you, you do it to Tesla, and you do it to any company. We’re going to catch you, and you’re going to go through hell.”
Trump has also referred to the Tesla boycott as ‘illegal’, which actually goes against the Supreme Court’s 1982 ruling that the First Amendment protects an American’s right to protest private businesses.
It seems that Tesla’s stocks have had a slight boost in the aftermath of Trump’s sales pitch, although Baird analyst Ben Kallo explained the bigger picture to CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street”. Kallo said: “When people’s cars are in jeopardy of being keyed or set on fire out there, even people who support Musk or are indifferent Musk might think twice about buying a Tesla.”
Tesla shares were up 3.8% on March 11, which should help regain some ground from a historic March 10 drop of 15% – giving TSLA its biggest one-day drop since 2020.
We’ll have to wait and see whether this impressive Tesla sales pitch works or things continue going up in (literal) flames for ‘Elon’s baby’.
Featured Image Credit: Andrew Harnik / Staff / Getty
Financial experts warn Trump’s Tesla stunt on White House lawn could seriously backfire
Many fear the brand is turning into a political symbol
Donald Trump’s public endorsement of Elon Musk’s Tesla may have given the company a temporary boost.
But, financial experts warn it could do more harm than good in the long run.
On Tuesday (11 March), Trump publicly backed the world’s richest man, praising him and calling him a ‘patriot’ as five Teslas were lined up in the White House driveway.
Tesla investors cheered as the president announced that he even purchased a brand-new Tesla for himself – a move that seemed to briefly lift investor confidence.
But experts warn the unusual presidential backing is turning the electric car marker into a political brand.
“Tesla is becoming a political symbol of Trump and DOGE, and that is a bad thing for the brand,” said Wedbush Securities financial analyst Dan Ives, referring to the advisory group in charge of cutting government spending led by Musk. “You think it’s helping, but it’s actually hurting.”
Andrew Harnik / Staff / Getty
Although suffering a 15% drop the day before – and possibly the worst single day sell-offs in Tesla’s history a day earlier – Tesla stock ended Tuesday (12 March) up nearly 4%.
But even before Trump’s endorsement, Tesla has been facing a rough year so far. For one, falling global sales in 2025 have led to shares dropping to 45%.
The EV company has also been hit hard by rival companies, especially from Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers.
Several auto industry analysts have also pointed to Musk’s close ties to Trump and right-wing politics – a point that some believe led to the protests at US Tesla showrooms and reports of vandalised vehicles on the streets.
Meanwhile, consumers worry that CEO Musk’s heavy involvement in politics is taking his focus away from Tesla, which could lead to fewer deliveries and profits in 2025.
As the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has promised massive federal worker layoffs and aims to drastically reduce government spending by $2 trillion.
Andrew Harnik / Staff / Getty
Furthermore, the drop in Tesla stock could create further financial challenges for the company.
First, discounted employee stock was used as a way to incentivise Tesla workers to invest in the company. But with the stock so low, many of those ‘discounted’ shares are now worth more than the current market price – so the whole incentive is made meaningless.
Second, the stock drop could make it harder for Tesla to raise capital. In 2020, the company sold $12 billion worth of shares to help fund factories in Berlin and Texas and invest in self-driving technology. A lower share price means Tesla would get less funding if it tried to raise money through new stock offerings.
Featured Image Credit: Alex Wong / Staff / Getty
Reason why Donald Trump will never be able to drive a Tesla following passionate speech with Elon Musk
It’ll just sit there gathering dust
If you like to put the pedal to the metal, you might want to avoid running for President of the United States, as a bizarre stipulation means you probably won’t be able to make the most of your classic car collection.
We’re used to seeing President Donald Trump being motored around in his armored vehicle known as ‘The Beast’. Stocked with the POTUS’ blood type, door handles that can shock attackers, and bulletproof windows, the $1.5 million vehicle can withstand chemical attacks and is Trump’s regular runaround.
Still, Trump has boasted an impressive car collection over the years, including a 1956 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, 2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom Saloon, and even an OG Tesla Roadster.
With the recent drama surrounding Tesla, Trump has gotten firmly behind best buddy Elon Musk and bought a brand-new EV.
The POTUS won’t be able to take his new Tesla for a spin (Andrew Harnik / Staff / Getty)
Turning the White House into his own personal Tesla showroom, the POTUS posed in front of a fleet of Teslas and picked out a shiny red Model S that retails at around $80,000.
The President joked about “giving the Secret Service a heart attack” as he sat in the driver’s seat and said about how the vehicle can reach 95 kilometers per hour in just few seconds.
Saying, “That’s beautiful, that one,” Trump continued: “I’ll give him a check. I do it the old fashioned way …and I don’t want a discount.”
Speaking to the crowd, Trump concluded: “Here’s the bad news. I’m not allowed to drive the car
“I haven’t driven a car in a long time and I like to drive cars. But I’m going to have [the Tesla] in the White House and I’m going to let my staff use it. I’m going to let the people in the country use it and everyone is excited about it. I’m not allowed to use it. Can you believe it?”
It’s not a case of Trump not wanting to drive the Model S – he’s not allowed.
Following the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, the Secret Service enacted a rule that no serving or former President can drive on the roads. Lyndon Johnson was the last President to drive on public roads, and although the rule isn’t law, it’s adhered to by all parties.
Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton all steer clear of getting behind the wheel, while Hillary Clinton says she hasn’t driven since 1996.
The fact that former Presidents aren’t allowed to drive is a cause of contention for them, with Clinton telling Ellen DeGeneres that not being able to drive is the thing he misses the most. Speaking in 2012, he joked: “I mean, if I wanted to give up Secret Service protection for life, I could do it.”
The same year, President Obama was seen driving a Chevy Volt around the White House, with Secret Service agents closing the gates so he wasn’t driving in public. When serving as Vice President, Joe Biden lodged a complaint when speaking at the United Auto Workers conference in 2014, grumbling: “There are a lot of reasons to run for president, but there’s one overwhelming reason not to run for president. I like to get that [Corvette] Z06 from zero to 60 in 3.4 seconds.”
Biden used his appearance on Jay Leno’s Garage to give his ’67 Corvette a rare drive around a Secret Service training area in Maryland.
The Secret Service are tasked with keeping the President and former Presidents safe because they’re trained in “evasive and defensive driving maneuvers,” and while we’re not questioning the driving skills of the POTUS, it looks like he’ll have to admire his new Tesla from afar.