WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump’s endorsement of billionaire Elon Musk’s Tesla car on the White House lawn has apparently failed to convince elected Republicans it’s time to buy an electric vehicle.
“I prefer vehicles with internal combustion engines that burn fuels that we have in the United States, or that we blend in the state of Missouri, and that are made in the United States,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told HuffPost on Wednesday.
Trump on Tuesday paraded several Tesla vehicles outside the White House in support of “great patriot” Musk, his wealthy employee, after Tesla’s share price slumped and sales plunged amid anger at his efforts to dismantle government agencies and lay off federal workers.
Contrary to all ethical standards and regulations designed to prevent government officials from using public service for private gain, the president used the weight of his office to give Musk, one of his closest advisers, a boost and make good on a promise to buy a red Tesla, which retails for roughly $80,000.
“I just wanted to make a statement. I’m going to buy one now,” Trump said afterward.
Shortly after the event, The New York Times reported that Musk is planning to donate $100 million into groups controlled by the Trump political operation, which the outlet called an “unheard-of” donation for a White House staffer.
A key drawback of electric vehicles relative to their gas-powered counterparts is their range, or how far they can drive on a single fill-up or recharge. Several Republicans said lower EV ranges were a dealbreaker for them.
“Teslas in Oklahoma wouldn’t work very well,” added Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.). “For me, just to get to town is 90 miles. An F-250 can go 520 miles.”
“I drive too many miles,” added Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio).
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) told HuffPost he already owns a Lincoln hybrid. He said he’d seen Trump’s infomercial on the White House lawn but didn’t comment on it.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), meanwhile, referred to Musk’s vehicle as “the Trump Tesla.”
“You got a big T at the beginning,” he said. The Alabama Republican said his son owned one but that he would be sticking with gas power.
Conservatives have for years mocked Democrats for buying electric vehicles and for seeking to bolster their production in the United States. (The National Republican Senatorial Committee shamed former Democratic Sen. Jon Tester for driving a Prius last year.) Republican voters have been much more partial to gas-guzzling pick-up trucks, especially across the U.S. heartland.
Musk’s enthusiastic embrace of Trump could further harm Tesla’s image and sales with those on the left, many of whom purchased one before the new Trump administration.
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) for example, told Semafor he’s thinking of selling his Tesla, while Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), another Tesla owner, joked he planned to hand it over to Trump.
“I’m gonna send it over and park it on the lawn of the White House, because that’s where Teslas live now, apparently,” Kelly said.
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And Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called Trump’s embrace of electric vehicles hollow given his administration’s efforts to repeal EV tax credits that Democrats passed into law.
“For any new MAGA converts who are now joining the EV revolution ― even though they say they’ve hated it, MAGA said they’ve hated it ― let me just say, if you’re below the income limit, you can thank Democrats for your $7,500 EV tax credit,” Schumer said in a speech.
