The White House intends to hit the White House for Tesla as Elon Musk's electric vehicle (EV) company is struggling with financial problems and faces an increasingly violent backlash.
President Trump and senior administration officials promoted Teslas on the White House lawns, urging Americans to buy the company's struggled stocks. The Trump administration has also labeled the destruction of Tesla dealers and vehicles as “domestic terrorism” and filed federal charges against those suspected of destructive conduct.
The level of support the Trump administration has behind the company is unprecedented, with Musk in particular as Trump's top adviser, leading efforts to cut federal workers and dismantle agencies.
As the backlash between Tesla and Musk grows, the White House is doubling the defense of the company and the world's wealthiest man who critics have denounced government overhauls and became government bogeymen.
“It is wrong and illegal for the Secretary of Commerce to promote certain stocks in Tesla or any of its shares,” Sen. Andy Kim, DN.J., wrote in a post on X on Thursday. “It's also wrong and illegal for people to destroy and destroy Tesla cars. Both corruption and violence damage our democracy.”
Tesla stocks have plummeted in recent weeks, falling nearly 39% since the start of the year and have fallen more than 50% since late December. The electric car company, whose stock prices surged after Trump's victory in November, saw Musk's concerns take over $500 billion in market value in the first few months of 2025 amid concerns about the company.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick praised Musk in an interview with Fox News as “the best entrepreneur, the best technician, the best leader in any American company working in America.” He then suggested that Americans buy Tesla stocks.
“If you want to learn something from this show tonight, if you want to buy a Tesla,” Rutnick said. “I can't believe this guy's stock is this cheap. It's never going to be this cheap again.”
Tesla cars, dealers, showrooms and charging stations are also being targeted for violent demonstrations, shootings, arson attacks and vandalism.
Attorney General Pam Bondy announced Thursday that the attack on the electric vehicle (EV) company was named “domestic terrorism” on Tuesday, with three perpetrators facing “serious charges.”
The White House also collided with Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz (D), who was Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate in last year's election. Waltz said he checks it when he needs to “a little boost during the day.”
“I think that's very sad, but unfortunately, I think Governor Waltz has lived a sad existence after a devastating defeat on November 5th,” spokesman Carolyn Leavitt said Wednesday.
Last week, Trump offered Musk's personal support show, pledging to buy a Tesla while testing a series of models parked outside the White House, where he argued that his close allies were “treated unfairly.”
“Trump buying Tesla at an event at the White House last week is a great political theatre….but it hasn't solved the current brand/demand issues for masks and Tesla.
Musk is at the heart of Tesla's brand, complicated by his role in the administration leading government efficiency (DOGE).
Doge's push to cut trillions of dollars in government spending is completely unpopular. In a recent Quinnipiac University poll, six in 10 voters said they were unhappy with the handling of the federal workforce's cost-cutting panel.
Musk himself struggles to stimulate confidence, with 62% saying in a CNN/SSRS poll earlier this month that the tech billionaire lacks the necessary experience for his role in the administration, and an additional 61% doubting his judgment.
Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities Analyst proposed that Musk would need to “take a step back” from his work at Doge in order to focus on Tesla.
“Since Trump took office, there have been no photographs of Musk at Tesla's facility. Essentially, he lives in Marlago and the White House,” Ives told Hill. “So I think it's a true move for Musk to read the room, take a step back and guide Tesla through this brand's tornado crisis.”
Trump's first term aide calls Tesla's stock “a strange and unforced error.”
“The job of the Secretary of Commerce is not to play stockbrokers on national television, but that's exactly what happened,” the former aide said. “Lutnick wasn't just pushing stocks. He pushed stocks tied to the president's top campaign donor. He committed nearly $300 million to Trump and Republican candidates before the midterm elections.
A longtime Republican lobbyist in Washington wanted to name it, noted that Trump's relationship with Musk is much closer than past presidents and other businesses.
“I'm old enough to remember Joe BidenHeadingGeneral Motors Factory Zero and Barack Obama's dedication spent the night in town where they were gathering money and enjoying dinner.CBS Reportbut like everything, Trump is bigger, bolder and ball-sized than his predecessor,” the lobbyist said.
The Campaign Legal Center on Thursday alleged that Lutnick's comments violated federal ethics rules.
“His statement is part of a pattern of behavior that shows Trump's indifference to ethics is being fooled by his most senior officials,” said Kedric Payne, CLC's vice president, general counsel and senior director of ethics.
And Tesla isn't the only one that the White House supports.
The Trump team also praised Musk throughout the week after his SpaceX Company successfully brought back astronauts Butch Willmore and Suni Williams, stuck-down from the International Space Station. Return was highlighted in a briefing at the White House press conference and a television interview that gave Musk, SpaceX and Trump credit for his success.
Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration is doing business with Starlink for Musks.
Reports have been revealed that they are considering canceling Verizon's $2.4 billion contract to revamp its telecommunications system in support of Musk's satellite company, but Musk's Company has refused any efforts to take over the contract. Currently, StarLink kits are available free of charge to the FAA.
Other areas where the Trump team has been making money since January – when the Trump family has stopped lawsuits against the crypto exchange, including the decision to launch memecoin just before Trump and Melania Trump take office, and exempt Melania's main license from the documentary Melania, the Trump tribe's main video is also about critics.
“The level of blatant, open corruption in the Trump administration is frankly surprising,” said a former Biden administration official.
The source added, “After cited examples of whether you're working to cut down programs like veteran healthcare and Medicaid among inflated Amazon movie rights payments, meme coins, and suspected suspects, whether government officials lined up in their pockets.”
