President Donald Trump transformed the South Lawn of the White House into a car lot for Tesla vehicles, showcasing the company’s cars and endorsing them as a ‘great product.’ During the event, Trump admired a cherry-red Tesla Model S and praised its features, while Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, acted as a salesman. The president expressed his intention to purchase one of the displayed cars, emphasizing his support for Musk, whom he described as ‘a great patriot.’ This event highlighted the transactional nature of Trump’s presidency, openly rewarding his allies. Despite federal regulations prohibiting the use of government positions to endorse private companies, the event proceeded. Tesla stock saw an increase of nearly 4 percent by the end of the day.
— news from The Washington Post