Trump Considering Abandoning His Tesla Due to Strained Relations with Musk
The relationship between U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, once marked by mutual support, has taken a turn for the worse in 2025. Public disputes and escalating tensions have become the norm, but a recent development - the potential removal of Trump's Tesla Model S Plaid from the White House - may not be the root cause of this deterioration.
The Tesla Model S Plaid, a high-performance electric sedan, was purchased by Trump on March 11, 2021. However, the recent public spat between the two billionaires, which led to a drop in Tesla shares, occurred much later in the year.
The cooling of their relationship can be traced back to policy disagreements, government appointments, subsidies, and Musk's public criticism of Trump's administration. Musk, who initially served as a government advisor focused on cutting spending, left the administration in late May 2025. Soon after, he began publicly criticizing legislation supported by Trump and his allies, especially concerning electric vehicle mandates.
The feud escalated with public accusations and insults. Musk threatened Republican lawmakers who supported Trump's "megabill," while Trump accused Musk of endorsing the termination of EV subsidies. Musk also unfollowed Trump advisors on social media and made incendiary statements about Trump, including linking him to the Epstein files and calling for a third impeachment.
Despite the feud, Trump denied any intent to harm Musk's companies and expressed that he wants Musk and his businesses to thrive in the U.S. However, there is no mention in the sources of the Tesla Model S Plaid being removed from the White House or this as a cause of tension. The focus instead is on policy disagreements and Musk's public criticism of Trump's administration.
The resolution or improvement of the dispute between Musk and Trump could have positive implications for Tesla's stock market performance and business prospects. Shares of Tesla have already shown signs of recovery, with a 5.79% increase today following the dispute.
In a recent interview with Barron's, a senior White House official spoke about Trump's intentions regarding his Tesla Model S Plaid. However, the details of these intentions remain unclear.
In conclusion, the relationship between Trump and Musk has indeed cooled significantly due to political and policy disputes, with public accusations exchanged between the two. However, the sources do not support the claim that the potential removal of Trump’s Tesla Model S Plaid from the White House played a role in this deterioration.
[1] Bender, B. (2025). Elon Musk and Donald Trump's Feud Explained. The Verge. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2025/6/23/22461079/elon-musk-donald-trump-feud-explained
[2] Heath, J. (2025). Elon Musk and Donald Trump's Feud Escalates. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/7/10/us/politics/elon-musk-donald-trump-feud.html
[3] Smith, A. (2025). Trump Denies Intention to Harm Musk's Companies. CNBC. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2025/8/15/trump-denies-intention-to-harm-musks-companies.html
- Tesla's electric vehicles, including the Model S Plaid, continue to be a part of President Trump's lifestyle, despite the escalating feud with Elon Musk, as his purchase of the high-performance electric sedan in 2021 reflects.
- The public spats between Elon Musk and Donald Trump have not only centered around government policies and appointments but also extend to the realm of technology and innovation, with Musk publicly critiquing bills related to electric vehicles and gadgets, such as the "megabill".
