Trump says he’s going to buy a Tesla as more Americans say they won’t

After one of many worst single day sell-offs in Tesla’s history, President Donald Trump threw his help behind his advisor, billionaire Elon Musk, vowing to purchase one among his automobiles on Tuesday.

Tesla has been pummeled this 12 months below competitors from rival electrical automobiles, significantly out of China, in addition to his shut affiliation with Trump and with far proper causes globally.

Shares have plummeted 45% in 2025 and on Monday tumbled greater than 15% to $222.15, the bottom since late October, reflecting newfound pessimism as gross sales crater across the globe.

In an in a single day put up on his Reality Social platform, Trump stated Musk is “placing it on the road” to assist the nation. Trump claimed within the put up that “Radical Left Lunatics” have been trying to “illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of many World’s nice automakers, and Elon’s ‘child.”

The inventory climbed greater than 3% earlier than the market open on Tuesday.

Numerous auto industry analysts have attributed Tesla’s current sagging inventory — and auto gross sales — to Musk’s help of Trump and different far proper candidates all over the world. In current days, Tesla showrooms in the U.S. have been besieged by protesters, its vehicles vandalized on the road. Tesla homeowners, maybe in a bid to keep away from being focused, have positioned bumper stickers on their automobiles with messages like, “I purchased it earlier than Elon went nuts.”

Federal prosecutors charged a lady in reference to a string of vandalism in opposition to a Colorado Tesla dealership, which included Molotov cocktails being thrown at automobiles and the phrases “Nazi automobiles” spray painted on the constructing.

Musk pumped $270 million into Trump’s marketing campaign heading into the 2024 election, appeared on stage with him and cheered Trump’s victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in November. Tesla inventory soared to $479 per share by mid-December, however have since misplaced 45% of their worth.

Musk has turn into the face of the Trump administration’s slash-and-burn authorities downsizing efforts, referred to as the Division of Authorities Effectivity, or DOGE. The division has promised huge federal employee layoffs and goals to drastically cut back authorities spending.

Analysts have stated Musk’s shift to right-wing politics would not seem to sit down effectively with potential Tesla consumers, typically perceived to be rich and progressive shoppers.

Tesla gross sales are falling precipitously in California, the corporate’s greatest U.S. market, and the corporate recorded its first annual international gross sales decline final 12 months. Equally, Tesla gross sales plunged 45% in Europe in January, in response to analysis agency Jato Dynamics, at the same time as total electrical car gross sales rose. The gross sales numbers have been significantly dangerous in Germany and France.

The newest auto gross sales determine from China present that Tesla gross sales there have been practically halved from February a 12 months in the past, though the decline is basically due elevated competitors from home EV firms.

However gross sales within the U.S. have fallen attributable to competitors, and a rustic sharply divided about Trump.

U.S. Analysts at UBS International Analysis count on deliveries to fall 5% within the first quarter and full 12 months in comparison with the identical intervals for 2024.

“Our UBS Proof Lab knowledge reveals low supply instances for the Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y (typically inside two weeks) in key markets which we imagine is indicative of softer demand,” they wrote.

Along with backing Trump, Musk has additionally proven help for the far-right, pro-Russian, anti-Muslim party in German y, known as the British p rime minister an “evil tyrant” and known as Canada — a serious Tesla market —”not an actual nation.”

Tesla is just not the one Musk-led firm to run into hassle not too long ago. His X social media platform crashed a number of instances on Monday, which Musk claimed was a “huge” cyberattack. However just like the clear-cutting he is performed with federal jobs, Musk slashed the variety of workers at X and know-how consultants warned of elevated vulnerability.

Final week, a rocket launched by Musk’s SpaceX exploded and broke aside over Florida, about two months after one other of the corporate’s rockets failed.