White House "Discussing Sale of Tesla Vehicle"
Moves to Erase Musk's Influence Begin
President Donald Trump of the United States is reportedly experiencing conflict with Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, to the extent that he is considering selling his own Tesla vehicle. The relationship between the two, who were once political allies, has deteriorated into a public war of words, signaling a de facto breakup.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is watching President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House. Photo by UPI Yonhap News
According to major U.S. media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on June 6 (local time), a senior White House official stated that President Trump is considering selling or transferring to a third party the red Tesla Model S that he personally purchased in March. It was reported that the vehicle was still parked inside the White House as of the previous day.
During last year's presidential election, President Trump appointed Musk, who supported him, as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). At that time, Musk faced intense public criticism for aggressively pushing for federal government restructuring. This even led to a boycott of Tesla products. In response, President Trump purchased a Tesla vehicle as a show of support. He was also quoted in the White House, riding in the car with Musk, saying, "You have to love Tesla products."
However, their relationship rapidly deteriorated recently after Musk publicly criticized President Trump's key legislative initiative, the "One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA)." Through social media, Musk called the bill "a disgusting monstrosity" and pointed out that it would worsen the fiscal situation due to tax cuts and excessive spending. On May 28, he also announced his resignation from his special government post to focus on managing Tesla.
In response, President Trump said he was "very disappointed," adding, "Musk knew this bill better than anyone, and if he wanted to criticize it, he should have done so months ago." President Trump suggested that Musk's opposition was influenced by the reduction of electric vehicle subsidies and the withdrawal of the NASA administrator nomination for a figure Musk supported.
The two continue to exchange barbs on social media. While they once showcased a political partnership, both sides are now engaged in an all-out confrontation against each other.
The fallout from their conflict has also affected the market. On June 5, Tesla's stock price plummeted on the New York Stock Exchange, wiping out approximately $152 billion (about 206 trillion won) in market capitalization. Politico reported that White House aides are coordinating a phone call in an effort to mediate a reconciliation between the two sides.
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