On March 10, 2025, former President Trump made headlines by announcing his decision to purchase a Tesla, signaling his support for Elon Musk amidst ongoing scrutiny regarding their ties. The following day, he acquired a striking red Tesla Model S, shelling out $80,000 via check.
Trump and Musk were spotted outside the White House examining different Tesla models before Trump ultimately selected the Model S. He described the vehicle as a “great product” and expressed hope that his endorsement would positively impact Tesla’s recent sales struggles and stock performance.
Ironically, this endorsement comes after Trump has publicly criticized electric vehicles on multiple occasions. During a rally in Ankeny, Iowa, in December 2023, he voiced his skepticism, arguing that electric cars have limitations in distance and are prohibitively expensive.
“They don’t go far. They cost a lot of money. They got some basic problems. They’re very expensive and they don’t go far. I think they want to keep you somewhere around your home. They don’t want to build highways or something. They got some crazy plan,”he stated.
A Closer Look at Trump’s Stance on Electric Vehicles
Many found Trump’s recent endorsement of Tesla surprising, given his earlier criticisms of electric vehicles. At a rally in New Hampshire in November 2023, he remarked on the impracticality of electric cars for long-distance travel:
“You can’t get out of New Hampshire in an electric car. Where are you going? ‘I’m going to Massachusetts.’ Well, you better get yourself a gas turbine because this car is not going to get you there. Well, you could, if you stop about four times.”
Additionally, Trump has been vocally opposed to President Biden’s electric vehicle initiative, which aims for 50% of new vehicles sold in the United States to be battery-powered by 2030. During his inauguration speech in January 2025, Trump pledged to eliminate this mandate, reiterating his commitment to “save our auto industry”and uphold the right for consumers to “buy the car of your choice.”
Trump’s history of criticism toward Musk also raises eyebrows. In 2022, he publicly mocked the entrepreneur’s requests for assistance with his various subsidized ventures, which included electric vehicles and space projects, writing:
“When Elon Musk came to the White House asking me for help on all of his many subsidized projects, whether it’s electric cars that don’t drive long