From Public Lawn to Private Showroom: Trump Turns the White House Into a Tesla Display

On March 11, 2025, President Trump turned the White House South Lawn into a temporary Tesla showroom, with five vehicles parked on the driveway for him to inspect alongside Elon Musk. Trump praised the cars, including the Cybertruck, and selected a red Model S starting at $73,490, saying he would pay by check as a show of support for Musk and Tesla amid a sales slump tied to Musk's political role.

The event was livestreamed by White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino on X, the platform owned by Musk. Ethics observers noted it is highly unusual for a sitting president to personally endorse a specific consumer product, drawing comparisons to a 2017 incident in which a Trump aide was formally warned by a government ethics office for promoting a commercial product.

Critics argue the event blurred the line between public office and private business interests, given Musk's role advising the administration on federal spending. No ethics violation has been formally charged.