Trump’s Tesla Decision: The Intersection of Technology and Political Strategy

(LibertySociety.com) – President Trump is keeping his Tesla despite his ongoing feud with Elon Musk, demonstrating a strategic balancing act between personal conflicts and practical technology choices.

At a Glance

• Trump plans to keep his red Model S Tesla despite his public rift with Elon Musk
• The president may “move the Tesla around” from its current White House parking location
• Trump will continue using Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service at the White House
• The feud began over Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” which Musk called a “disgusting abomination”
• Trump originally purchased the Tesla in March to support Musk amid backlash

A Tesla Stays, But Relationship Sours

President Donald Trump has confirmed he will keep his red Tesla Model S despite his deteriorating relationship with Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The vehicle, purchased by Trump in March as a show of support for Musk during a period of public criticism, now sits as a symbol of their complicated alliance. Trump addressed the situation during an Invest America Roundtable event, where he discussed both the vehicle and Musk’s Starlink internet service currently installed at the White House.

“I may move the Tesla around a little bit, but I don’t think we’ll be doing that with Starlink. It’s a good service,” Trump stated, suggesting he values the technology despite personal disagreements with its creator. This practical approach highlights the president’s willingness to separate business decisions from personal conflicts, especially when the technology serves a functional purpose at the White House.

From Allies to Adversaries

The relationship between Trump and Musk deteriorated dramatically following Musk’s departure from the White House in May. At the center of their dispute is Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a legislative proposal that includes tax cuts, spending increases, and notably, the elimination of electric vehicle tax credits. The bill directly impacts Musk’s business interests, particularly Tesla’s electric vehicle market position.

“Elon was ‘wearing thin,’ I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!” – President Donald Trump.

Musk publicly condemned the bill as a “disgusting abomination,” setting off a chain of increasingly hostile exchanges. The tech billionaire went so far as to claim Trump would have lost the 2024 election without his support, further inflaming tensions. Trump responded by threatening to cancel subsidies and contracts for Musk’s businesses, demonstrating how quickly their alliance disintegrated over policy disagreements.

Practical Technology Choices

Despite the personal animosity, Trump’s decision to maintain both the Tesla and Starlink service reflects a pragmatic approach to technology. The White House installed Starlink to improve Wi-Fi connectivity, addressing practical needs regardless of the personal conflict with its founder. Initially, a White House official had confirmed Trump was considering selling or giving away the Tesla, making his decision to keep it somewhat surprising.

“I have a lot of locations. I got so many locations that I don’t know what to do with them all.” – President Donald Trump.

Trump’s stance on Tesla has noticeably shifted from his earlier praise of the company as a “great American company” to recent criticisms that Tesla is “having a hard time.” This change in rhetoric mirrors the deterioration of his relationship with Musk. Nevertheless, Trump has adopted a more conciliatory tone in recent statements, indicating he would be open to speaking with Musk if approached, suggesting the door remains open for potential reconciliation.

​Copyright 2025, LibertySociety.com