United States President Donald Trump has announced that he will purchase a brand-new Tesla to show his support for billionaire Elon Musk, whom he described as "a truly great American". Trump's announcement follows mounting criticism of Musk and a wave of vandalism attacks targeting Tesla facilities across the United States.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed his admiration for Musk while condemning what he claimed was an orchestrated effort to damage Tesla’s reputation.

"To Republicans, Conservatives, and all great Americans, Elon Musk is ‘putting it on the line’ in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!"

Trump accused critics of attempting to sabotage Tesla in an effort to undermine Musk personally.

"But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World’s great automakers, and Elon’s ‘baby,’ in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for."

Drawing parallels to his own political battles, Trump wrote: "They tried to do it to me at the 2024 Presidential Ballot Box, but how did that work out?" 

Announcing his show of support, Trump added: "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. Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???"

In response, Musk acknowledged Trump’s statement with a brief post on X (formerly Twitter), writing: "Thank you, President."

placeholder
ATF investigators and a member of the Seattle Fire Department inspect burned Tesla Cybertrucks at a Tesla lot in Seattle, US.
​​ATF investigators and a member of the Seattle Fire Department inspect burned Tesla Cybertrucks at a Tesla lot in Seattle, US.

Tesla facilities targeted amid rising tensions

Trump's remarks came amid a surge of vandalism attacks on Tesla showrooms, charging stations, and vehicles. According to a report by The Washington Post, there have been more than a dozen incidents involving violence or property damage at Tesla facilities since Trump’s inauguration.

One of the most notable incidents occurred in Loveland, Colorado, where a woman named Lucy Grace Nelson was arrested after repeatedly targeting a Tesla dealership. Over a 13-day period starting on January 29, Nelson allegedly: "Threw a Molotov cocktail at a Tesla Cybertruck. Spray-painted the words "Nazi cars" and "F--- Musk" on dealership property. Returned four more times to continue vandalizing vehicles before being arrested.' 

Protests against Tesla have also occurred in other regions, including peaceful demonstrations where groups chanted "Elon Musk has got to go" in opposition to Musk’s political affiliations and controversial leadership.

DOGE and political backlash

Much of the unrest stems from Musk's leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an agency linked to federal budget cuts and job reductions. Critics have accused Musk of aligning with conservative political agendas, further fueling public anger.

While some protests have remained peaceful, incidents of vandalism and targeted attacks have raised concerns about Tesla’s security and public image.

The backlash comes at a difficult time for Tesla, which recently reported its first-ever annual decline in vehicle deliveries. Despite an overall 34% increase in electric vehicle sales across Europe in January, Tesla’s European sales plunged by 50%.

In China, Tesla's second-largest market, sales dropped 29% in the first two months of 2024. Growing competition from Chinese EV manufacturers and European automakers has intensified pressure on Tesla's market share.