Red EV becomes symbol of fractured alliance between the former allies as political tensions soar
WASHINGTON — A red Tesla once touted by President Donald Trump as a symbol of his support for Elon Musk may soon be offloaded, following a dramatic public fallout between the former U.S. president and the tech billionaire.
A senior White House official confirmed Friday that Trump is “thinking about it” when asked whether he intends to sell or give away the electric vehicle, which he had purchased earlier this year. The car, valued at approximately $80,000, was spotted in a White House parking lot Friday, just a day after the rift between the two figures exploded into the public eye.
The disagreement has sent ripples through the business and political spheres, with Tesla’s stock plunging more than 14% on Thursday — erasing around $100 billion in market value — before partially recovering in early trading Friday.
Trump, who doesn’t drive due to security protocols, announced the purchase in March, calling it a gesture of support for Musk, a key donor and former government advisor. At the time, the White House lawn was briefly transformed into a Tesla showcase, where Trump praised the vehicle as a “great product” and lambasted what he called “Radical Left” attacks on Musk and his company.
Top aides, including Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Communications Advisor Margo Martin, were recently seen posing in the vehicle, with Martin posting on Musk’s platform X: “Taking President Trump’s Tesla out for a ride.”
However, the glossy red car now symbolizes a bitter break. Trump, 78, expressed “deep disappointment” in Musk, 53, after the former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief publicly condemned Trump’s sweeping budget and policy bill, calling it an “abomination.”
The president responded sharply, threatening to sever federal contracts with Musk-linked companies, deepening a rift that could have lasting political and financial repercussions.
As the drama unfolds, all eyes are on what becomes of the Tesla — once a sleek token of loyalty, now a relic of a fractured alliance.
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