âDystopian levels of corruptionâ: Trump turns White House into Tesla advertisement for Elon Musk
Donald Trump turns the White House into a Tesla promotional event to support Elon Musk's private business interests.
After Americans boycotted Tesla to express their opposition to Elon Muskâs government takeover, President Donald Trump temporarily transformed the White House lawn into a Tesla car show.
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Recently, Trump has expressed disgruntlement at Americansâ right to protest and boycott. He even claimed that pro-Palestinian college protests were âillegalâ and would result in student suspension or even deportation for international students. However, the Tesla boycotts seem to have gotten under his skin even more than student protests. In a social media rant, he insisted the Tesla boycott is âillegalâ while expressing his desire to buy a Tesla in a show of support for Musk. Trump even went as far as to state heâll now prosecute any acts of vandalism or attacks on Tesla dealerships as âdomestic terrorism.â The President has also joined MAGA in attempting to paint Musk, the wealthiest man in the world who paid his way into an unelected government position, as a martyr. Theyâve expressed distress that Musk is being treated âunfairlyâ and might lose the tiniest percentage of his $319.6 billion fortune as he snatches away funds from children with cancer and eyes low-income Americansâ Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits.
Trump felt that billionaire Musk should be adding to his personal riches as he fired thousands of federal workers, left government departments understaffed, and cut childhood research funds, so he turned the White House lawn into a Tesla promotion.
Buying a Tesla wasnât a big enough show of support for Musk, as Trump ordered an entire procession of Teslas to line the White House lawn. Trump then came outside and made a big show of âinspectingâ the Teslas and repeating compliments like âbeautifulâ and âwowâ while Musk eagerly followed him around. He marveled over every aspect of the cars, including expressing shock that âeverythingâs computer.â The pair were spotted posing for photos in front of the Teslas and taking them for test drives.
Of course, the ordeal was clearly meant to be a promotional event for Musk, who livestreamed the entire thing on social media. Such a scene at the White House is unprecedented since federal regulations prohibit employees from using their office to endorse, promote, or advertise products for their personal gain or the âprivate gain of friends, relatives, or personsâ theyâre affiliated with. This incident is particularly ethically concerning, given that Musk was one of Trumpâs biggest campaign donors. Not only was Musk granted a position of power for his contribution, but now the President of the United States is using the White House to promote his personal business interests. As one user commented on X, the spectacle highlights âdystopian levels of corruption.â
(@mattxiv/X)
Trump seems to think heâs owning the liberals with his Tesla stunt, but all heâs doing is publicly flaunting his corruption. Heâs sending a message to the worldâs billionaires that hefty donations earn not just political favors but also business favors and free advertising from the sitting president himself. Shortly after the Tesla car show, reports alleged that Musk is now seeking to pour $100 million into Trump-backed political groups. A donation of this scale from a White House staffer is unheard of. Trump isnât just doing Tesla an ethically questionable favor but also showing America that he can, and perhaps already has, been bought.
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