Donald Trump’s latest White House event took an unexpected turn when a seemingly routine show of support for Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, became a viral sensation. While Trump praised Musk and vowed to back Tesla amid what he described as a “radical left” boycott, it was a piece of paper in his hand that stole the spotlight.
Despite previously dismissing electric vehicles as impractical and claiming they were “only good if you have a towing company,” Trump transformed the White House lawn into a Tesla showroom on March 11. A lineup of Tesla models was put on display as he expressed his enthusiasm for the EV giant.
“I’m going to buy a brand-new Tesla,” Trump announced to reporters, emphasizing that he would pay “full price” for the vehicle. He also marveled at the brand’s technological advancements, stating, “everything’s computer.” The president went on to accuse the “radical left” of attempting to sabotage Musk’s business through a coordinated boycott, which he claims is politically motivated.
On Truth Social, Trump further elaborated on his stance, writing, “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.”
As Trump’s remarks drew attention, so did the paper he was holding, which quickly became a topic of online discussion. A zoomed-in photograph captured the handwritten note, listing Tesla vehicle prices, including the cost of its self-driving feature. The note read:
Tesla Pricing:
- Full Self Driving:
- Model X – $112,490 (silver)
- CT – $114,000 (Gray)
- Model S – $108,990 (Blue)
- Model Y – $59,990 (Red)
Beneath the list, additional details partially obscured by Trump’s thumb appeared to include a promotional statement: “Teslas can be purchased as low as $299/month or $35k. All cars have self-driving, just needs to be turned on (fee).”
Social media quickly erupted with reactions, with many users criticizing the apparent informality of the note and questioning why the White House was seemingly hosting a live advertisement for Tesla. One Redditor wrote, “I’m always surprised by his ability to make me more embarrassed as an American. Like you’d think there’d be no pride left at this point, but he finds a way to ruin it.” Another added, “Too expensive for the yahoos that voted for him, and they’re so dumb they wouldn’t be able to figure out the control panel anyway.”
Others raised concerns over the implications of the event, with one commenter questioning, “Why is the White House orchestrating an exclusive, live commercial for the richest man on Earth and a specific private sector company?” Another Reddit user suggested that Trump should be “impeached” for allegedly using “official White House press events to do literal advertisements for his billionaire friends.”
The event, intended as a display of support for Musk, quickly turned into a viral spectacle. Whether viewed as a sincere endorsement, a strategic PR stunt, or an outright sales pitch, Trump’s Tesla moment has left the internet buzzing—and it’s unlikely to be forgotten anytime soon.
