Trump Gets Behind The Wheel Of A Tesla To Support Elon Musk As Company Stock Falls

Topline President Donald Trump climbed into a Tesla outside of the White House Tuesday afternoon and said he will be purchasing one for full price, in a show of support for billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has faced legal challenges and criticism—including reportedly from Trump’s own cabinet members—over his role as Trump’s cost-cutter-in-chief. US-POLITICS-TRUMP-TESLA US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speak to the press as they sit in a Tesla vehicle ... [+]AFP via Getty Images Key Facts Trump teased he would buy a Tesla late Monday night in a Truth Social post in which he defended Musk, saying he is “‘putting it on the line’ in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!”

In the post, Trump criticized Democrats for “trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla … in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for,” saying he would buy “a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.”

Trump viewed five Tesla vehicles, including a Cybertruck, alongside Musk Tuesday afternoon, climbed into the driver’s seat to see the inside—remarking it was “beautiful” and “everything’s computer”—and answered questions from the press.

He said he will be buying one to have at the White House for his staff to use, adding he “like(s) to drive cars” but is “not allowed to,” likely referring to the Secret Service’s reported policy that past and current presidents cannot drive on public roads.