US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he will buy a new Tesla to show his support for Elon Musk, as the electric car company faces protests and a drop in stock value.
Musk has been working with Trump's administration on job cuts in the federal government, which has sparked protests against Tesla.
Recently, around 350 people protested outside a Tesla dealership in Portland, Oregon, while nine people were arrested during another protest in New York City.
Trump defended Musk, calling him a "great American" who is "helping the country." He said on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he would buy a Tesla to show confidence in Musk.
Musk responded with a thank-you message on his platform, X.
Tesla’s stock has fallen sharply, losing more than half its value since December 2023. The decline is due to lower car sales, political controversies surrounding Musk, and concerns that his political involvement is distracting him from running Tesla effectively.
