In a sign of the deteriorating relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, Trump is contemplating selling or giving away the red Tesla he purchased to show his support for Musk during the protests surrounding the company.
This red electric vehicle, which remains parked in the White House yard, serves as a symbol of a “strange” event that took place in March, when Trump turned the White House into a Tesla showroom, representing the peak of their relationship.
When asked whether Trump would sell or gift the car, a senior White House official confirmed, “Yes, President Donald Trump is considering it.”
A significant conflict has erupted between the U.S. President and the billionaire, leading to mudslinging as Trump labeled Musk “crazy” and threatened to cancel governmental contracts.
During a press briefing in the Oval Office, Trump expressed “great disappointment” in Musk for criticizing the tax bill he had signed, suggesting that Musk was merely trying to protect his business interests.
In a subsequent post on his social media platform, Trump remarked that Musk, who is upset that the proposed tax bill currently in the Senate would increase the U.S. deficit, was “draining his powers” and had “asked him to leave” the government.
Musk, the CEO of the electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla, also accused the president, who supported him with over $250 million during last year’s campaign, of lying about the reasons for opposing the administration’s new spending proposals.
Trump claimed that Musk was unhappy with the “beautiful big bill” because it would end policies that benefit Tesla.