U.S. President Donald Trump has announced his intention to sell his red Tesla Model S, purchased in March, after a public falling-out with Elon Musk.
The car, which held symbolic value since presidents are not allowed to drive on public roads, was bought as a gesture of support for his then-ally, the automaker’s owner. However, the relationship between the two soured after an exchange of criticism that quickly went viral on social media.
The clash began when Musk criticized a public spending package approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, calling it financially irresponsible. Trump responded by expressing disappointment with the entrepreneur’s statements. The situation escalated, with the president threatening to cut subsidies and government contracts with Musk’s companies, such as SpaceX. In response, Musk even said he would deactivate the Crew Dragon capsule used by NASA, but later walked back the statement.
The fallout had direct effects on the financial market. Tesla shares plummeted 14% on the day of the clash, resulting in an estimated $26.6 billion loss to Musk’s net worth. The following day saw a modest 4% rebound, fueled by rumors of a potential reconciliation — which ultimately did not happen.
The dispute also involved personal and political accusations. Musk claimed Trump was ungrateful and wouldn’t have won the election without his help. Trump, in turn, said Musk had “gone crazy” and declared an end to what he called the “electric car mandate,” referring to policies promoting vehicle electrification — a move that directly impacts Tesla‘s business.
The feud shows no signs of cooling down, with increasingly public and intense repercussions.
Source: Car and Driver / Olhar Digital | Photo: X @TeslaNewswire | This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team
🔥🇺🇸 US President Trump has chosen an Ultra Red Tesla Model S as his new car https://t.co/eylfZbBVSI pic.twitter.com/YZImGcEsF4
— Tesla Newswire (@TeslaNewswire) March 11, 2025
