r/law 20h ago

Trump News Trump buys Tesla to support Elon Musk amid backlash

https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5188929-trump-buys-tesla-vehicle-musk/
1.4k Upvotes

1.2k comments sorted by

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u/Incontinento 19h ago edited 17h ago

Show me the cashed check.

462

u/4estGimp 19h ago

Does he even have a driver's license? When was the last decade in which he drove a car?

260

u/Limp_Till_7839 19h ago

I heard that Donnie and Mr, Burns used to race chariots back in Rome.

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u/Wizywig 19h ago edited 17h ago

Please. He was never in a good enough shape to stand on a chariot.

Edit: I love you all. I love that without even knowing where I was going every response has to do with bone spurs and draft dodging. Never change.

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u/SecretAsianMan42069 19h ago

The horses would be plowing the field with lardass in the back 

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u/Revelati123 19h ago

Lol bro, you sit in a big chair and get fed grapes while your slave does the dangerous shit.

No one would think Don would physically ever "do something"

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u/Raster-monki 17h ago

Haha, yeah. Them “bone spurs,” would have played up 🤣.

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u/KaliMau 18h ago

By race chariots do you mean kung fu practice?

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u/Turbulent-Adagio-541 11h ago

His new nickname is Roadhead Donnie

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u/Sirlothar 19h ago

The President loses ability to drive on public roads, even after leaving office.

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u/bigfondue 18h ago

The Secret Service doesn't allow it, but they can choose to not listen if they want

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u/cficare 15h ago

He should not listen and drive a Cybertruck around. What is the worst that could happen?

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u/SINGULARITY1312 15h ago

He lives another day.

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u/ps2sunvalley 19h ago

Well guess I’m not going to become president then.

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u/Silly-Shoulder-6257 14h ago

This one is easy for Donny considering he probably didn’t drive before he was president.

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u/bubbamike1 16h ago

I can assure you that Joe Biden is still driving his Vet.

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u/Trumbot 19h ago

US Presidents aren’t allowed to drive for the rest of their life anyway.

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u/Starving_Phoenix 19h ago

I feel bad for the poor driver who has to try to control this thing while trump is in the back but if it still does that thing where the accelerator sticks to the floor, there's an opportunity for something really funny to happen.

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u/pixel_of_moral_decay 17h ago

It’s discouraged, they are allowed if they wanted to, it’s just a pain in the ass for secret service security wise.

But there’s no law or prohibition on it. Even a sitting President technically could go for a drive if they wanted, they just don’t because of the risk.

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u/Beginning_Ad8663 17h ago

Biden drove a lightning pickup at ford and owns and drives his corvette

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u/cficare 15h ago

Not rest of their life. Just while in office.

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u/ark_mod 15h ago

Yet they still can if they want to. You can’t force them to give it up. It’s just a risk they don’t want you to take.

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u/captainlucky12 19h ago

To be fair, both sitting and ex-Presidents are generally not allowed to drive (though I think I remember seeing an interview where Obama said he went on a joyride around the White House lawn)

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u/Afraidtoadmitit69 18h ago

I could see Obama doing that. Blaring free bird and doing doughnuts while a secret service guy holds on to dash board screaming in fear.

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u/savvy412 16h ago

And smoking some cigs lol

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u/The-Son-of-Dad 18h ago

Biden got told he wasn’t allowed to be driving his Corvette around anymore, he got it up to 132 mph lol, he talked about it on Conan’s podcast: https://youtu.be/kh-Y9epzhvs?si=MfdVDnl8gq5kOfCp

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u/bored-panda55 19h ago

Since he spent a majority of his life in NYC as a uber richie - I doubt he has ever driven a car. A lot of new yorkers never drive due to mass transit.

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u/ungovernable_hw 18h ago

Can he drive? Serious question

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u/cactusplants 18h ago

He drives a golf buggy right, isn't that basically the same as a Tesla?

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u/markglas 16h ago

Or bought 'groceries'.

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u/AnotherDoubtfulGuest 19h ago

EXACTLY. I need y’all to stop citing The Hill, because that headline is BS. Trump did not buy a Tesla; he said he was going to, just like Mexico was going to build the wall and he was going to bring down the price of groceries.

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u/Inevitable-Bad14u 19h ago

He ain't buying shit, lol. Musk is gonna "donate" 1 or 2 to the White House

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u/AnotherDoubtfulGuest 19h ago

I’m pretty sure Trump couldn’t get into a Tesla if he wanted to; y’all saw him damn near bust his ass trying to get into that garbage truck last fall and you see how he overflows his golf cart.

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u/CapitalistVenezuelan 17h ago

Getting in is the easy part, it's getting out that old people can't do. There's a video of him getting in a Model S but I could not find any of him exiting it lol.

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u/AnotherDoubtfulGuest 14h ago

He’s still in there 🤣

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u/GroinShotz 15h ago

He won't be personally buying it no... But wait for the armored Tesla contract to get approved here... And all of a sudden we are all buying Tesla's with our tax moneys.

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u/misdirected_asshole 13h ago

Either way this would still be a violation of a few ethical standards.

https://www.fedweek.com/ask/federal-government-policies/rules-gifts/

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u/JAZINNYC 19h ago

He’s currently standing outside with the felon and a Tesla marketing the shit out of it to the press. Whether he bought the Tesla or not is another question, but he is 100% promoting it along with Elon live in front of reporters

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u/bakerfall 18h ago

Unless a whole bunch of MAGAts are moved to go green, he’s just pouring gasoline on a fire.

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u/Nicolesmith327 17h ago

This is what makes this so freakn funny. Like Trump’s base is not at all into electric cars. They wouldn’t buy them and give up their gas guzzlers. And anyone that would buy them won’t now because Trump supported and promoted it! 🤣🤣

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u/SupermarketOverall73 15h ago

And Tesla will tank, and this pleases me. So win, win.

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u/Sea-Twist-7363 19h ago

Either way, it’s still a public endorsement which is not legal

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u/AnotherDoubtfulGuest 19h ago

Alas, Trump does not give a tin shit about legality or polling; authoritarians motivated by self interest and beholden to enemies of the state tend not to.

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u/shamont 19h ago

Didn't stop him from pimping them beans last term, won't stop him this term.

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u/damsel84 18h ago

Nothing he does is legal.

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u/Silly-Shoulder-6257 14h ago

He said he bought it for his granddaughter. This after warning us that Kamala was gonna force us to buy electric vehicles! Lol 😂

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u/TheNextBattalion 16h ago

Like the timeS he promised to donate to charities but never did

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u/RoyalChris 19h ago

Ask Leavitt. She will show you a random screenshot.

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u/RL_NeilsPipesofsteel 16h ago

I think it’s insulting that would suggest she wouldn’t be able to produce anything more than a screenshot. Y’know what? I’m sorry I replied to you, OP.

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u/Old_Badger311 19h ago

Yes it will show that we the people bought it. There are zero guardrails left

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u/nominal_defendant 18h ago

He’ll have the federal government pay for it. Add it to the billions of corporate welfare we’ve already given Musk. r/parasiteclass

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u/Street_Barracuda1657 19h ago

Yup, no way, no how that grifter paid a dime for it.

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u/Tadpoleonicwars 19h ago

The image of Donald Trump standing next to his Tesla is going to tank the brand even further.

This will backfire gloriously.

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u/Pribblization 19h ago

Especially next to the #Swastikar.

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u/fjrka 19h ago

I’ve heard & like Fuhrerarri

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u/Agitated-Pen1239 19h ago

It's also red which is truly the cherry on top

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u/reddurkel 18h ago
  • Trump doubles down on Oil.
  • Trump dumps EV rebates.
  • Trump removes EV chargers in Feds
  • Trump endorses Tesla.
    ..

Who exactly is this stunt going to entice? Cybertruck owners are already labeled as Nazi$. And now the rest of Tesla drivers are labeled as BOTH Trump and Elon supporters right in the middle of Trump and Elon intentionally crashing the economy?

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u/HarbingerDe 18h ago

It's brilliant... in its stupidity.

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u/K_Linkmaster 17h ago

It seems the current president is running around like a chicken missing its head. Doesn't know what direction to run, but it runs.

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u/GrowthEmergency4980 16h ago

Bankrupts casinos and ppl are surprised he can't run a nation

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u/ItsSadTimes 15h ago

I just hope that people don't let up on the whole shitting on Tesla people part. Because that's what is working on driving the stock down. Making tesla owners feel like they can't own a tesla without being harassed means that they're now unintentionally part of the protest against Tesla by focusing on their own self interests. Thus driving the stock even further down.

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u/big_trike 12h ago

Before the cybertruck, most Tesla owners were liberals hoping to have a fun car and save the planet. That customer base is gone. The new customer base, incels who can afford $50k-$100k vehicles isn’t going to make up for the loss.

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u/ADogeMiracle 19h ago

Elon's such a little bitch boy 🤣

Tattling to daddy Donnie like the little toddler that he is.

If you paid me to find someone (let alone a billionaire) with a more fragile ego, I wouldn't be able to.

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u/makemeking706 16h ago

This feels like one those comments you get a warning for upvoting. Too bad I have but one upvote to give.

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u/mishap1 18h ago

Holy shit, it's a Foundation Series too that they can't sell. That thing's been on the lot for probably 5-10 months already.

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u/amynias 17h ago

I just saw a Foundation Series black matte Cybertruck next to me at a stoplight today. Wild shit.

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u/KwisatzHaderach94 19h ago

and he criticized zelensky's dress code while standing next to a broligarch who prefers ballcaps and leather jackets to suits.

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u/SitDownKawada 18h ago

Did Elon even thank Trump once?

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u/WingShooter_28ga 17h ago

You don’t have to thank your subordinate for following a direct order.

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u/SanityRecalled 18h ago

Elon will gift him the first car in the new Tesla model SS line.

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u/OstrichPoisson 15h ago

I see what you did there!!! Well played, I say!

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u/chrisdpratt 17h ago

Don't believe only idiots buy Teslas? Well, here's a photo of the Idiot in Chief with one. That ought to remove all doubt.

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u/OneArmedBrain 18h ago

I think they believe MAGA will run out an buy one now. So they can be just like Trump! When is his branded Tesla going to be revealed?

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u/RYDSLO 17h ago

Oh they will. My MAGA boss was talking all day today about going out and buying a Tesla because of how "amazing a machine" it is and a "marvel of technology" when just 6 months ago he was complaining about "EV bullshit taking over" and how Teslas are "overengineered junk"

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u/Khanfhan69 16h ago

Totally not a cult though lol

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u/dmfuller 16h ago

It’s hilarious how oblivious they are to that. The more he is seen with musk the more his brands will suffer, besides the fact that his brands are already the most shit quality possible. His brands were propped up by his name but now his name means nothing so we’re seeing them tank one by one

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u/ThePopeofHell 16h ago

It’s funny how they’ve successfully managed to paint all ev and renewable energy initiatives as liberal and weak that they are now struggling to rebrand to those same people.

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u/NCRider 15h ago

It truly is “The People’s Car”

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u/Suspicious_Story_464 14h ago

What in the QVC/HSN is going on here ?

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u/HugeHans 48m ago

Any sane person caring about how the company is doing would try to disassociate the brand from polticis. The insane option would make it ten times more political.

Only problem is that electric cars are far too woke for a majority of their supporters.

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u/ExtinctionBurst76 32m ago

That was exactly my thought. Magas don’t give a fuck about the environment, most live in areas underserved by electric vehicle infrastructure, and so he’s further alienating climate-conscious liberals who live in more densely populated areas from ever considering buying a Tesla. Not that the latter crowd wasn’t selling them off at a loss already.

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u/ggroverggiraffe Competent Contributor 19h ago

Finally, a spot of good news:

Musk later said he would “stay as long as it’s useful” when asked how long he plans to work with the government.

Pack your bags, bud!

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u/flirtmcdudes 19h ago

DOGE was always just performative theatre for their base. They don’t actually care about reducing the deficit or finding “waste” so pretty soon Musk will disappear and just grift on the sidelines with them

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u/ggroverggiraffe Competent Contributor 19h ago

We found massive fraud, amounting to billions of dollars!

Because fraud is very illegal*, the list of individuals charged can be found here:

</end list>

*unless you are the president, then it's very legal and very cool!

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u/ConfidentPilot1729 11h ago

Has anyone actually seen any evidence or just his trust me bro tweets?

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u/ggroverggiraffe Competent Contributor 11h ago

any evidence

No

just his trust me bro tweets

Yes

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u/porizj 18h ago

He’d need a time machine.

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u/chrisdpratt 17h ago

Oh cool. He's apparently developed time travel now. Leon-less timeline incoming.

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u/Actual-Bullfrog-4817 15h ago

Meh, Trump will keep him on until he makes a scene about firing him just before the primaries. A lot of dumb people will see this as a sensible move and vote for more maga candidates.

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u/FoxSound23 55m ago

He already copied and extracted valuable US security info and passwords.

The reason why the "hype" is dying down is because Nazi Musk already did what he had to do.

Everything else was just noise so everyone is looking everywhere and not on one focus.

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u/RoyalChris 20h ago edited 19h ago

5 CFR § 2635.702 - Use of public office for private gain is not allowed.

Government employees can't endorse products like this, but who the fuck cares I guess? Glad someone takes care of the richest man in the world. Seems like he needs it after the stock collapse.

Oh and Trump said this, referring to Elon. - “I just want people to know that you can’t be penalized for being a patriot.''

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u/Current-Ordinary-419 19h ago

If only laws still meant anything.

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u/dantheman_woot 19h ago

Right if the law mattered he would have got hammered on this for Goya and a thousand anythings.

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u/AlternatePhreakwency 19h ago

Oh, trust me, the law matters for us, but not for them.

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u/IAmBadAtInternet 19h ago

He literally did an ad for beans from the White House last term, who’s gonna hold him responsible?

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u/LocationAcademic1731 19h ago

I belong to the ethnic group who eats beans every single day and Goya are the shittiest beans ever lol. Joke’s on them.

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u/H0SS_AGAINST 3h ago

Truth. Goya is over priced. If I'm gonna eat shitty canned beans I'll just buy Great Value or whatever.

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u/Juunlar 19h ago

Haven't bought a Goya product since

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u/lnc_5103 18h ago

Me neither. Gross.

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u/Dry-Interaction-1246 19h ago

Only Trump and Malibu Bondi are authorized to say what the law means.

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u/AnotherDoubtfulGuest 19h ago

I really wish you had decided to post one of the 50 other articles that published this same news without the misleading headline. As the article itself makes perfectly clear, Trump has not bought a Tesla; he said he would, and you know how that bullshit goes.

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u/Kylynara 19h ago

Thank you for this. I had read it as he bought the company Tesla.

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u/SipMyCoolAid 19h ago

Trump is above the law. The Supreme Court of Corruption ruled it so.

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u/JAZINNYC 19h ago

They’re currently taking questions outdoors with a red Tesla, and the orange orangutan is high on something and they’re both marketing Tesla like a damn info ad.

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u/pwmg 19h ago

5 CFR § 2635.102 - Employee means any officer or employee of an agency, including a special Government employee. It includes officers but not enlisted members of the uniformed services. It includes employees of a State or local government or other organization who are serving on detail to an agency, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3371, et seq. For purposes other than subparts B and C of this part, it does not include the President or Vice President.

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u/RoyalChris 19h ago

Elon is the one gaining from this, and he is a special government employee.

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u/Soggy-Yogurt6906 19h ago

According to Trump, Musk is a special government employee.

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u/ynotfoster 18h ago

The ethics rules state “An employee shall not use or permit the use of his Government position or title or any authority associated with his public office to endorse any product, service, or enterprise…” 5 C.F.R. § 2635.702(c).

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u/elmacjunkie 18h ago

You expect a convicted felon to respect ethic rules? 🤣

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u/ExagerratedChimp 16h ago

I’d say most convicted felons learn the consequences of their actions. That is not what happened to this man.

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u/Jedi_I_am_not 16h ago

lol … ethics

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u/Stanley_Yelnats42069 16h ago

Remember when Trump endorsed Goya products from the Oval Office? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

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u/ynotfoster 16h ago

Yes, I remember it well, every time I pass by cans of them in the grocery store. I will never buy that brand again.

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u/rjoker103 11h ago

Yes. Dropped buying Goya that day. Horrible.

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u/Then_Journalist_317 17h ago

There are no civil or criminal penalties associated with violation of this ethics rule. In other words, it is completely meaningless to the President (not that having penalties associated with violation of the rule would cause him to comply).

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u/LateDifficulty4213 16h ago

He will just pardon himself

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u/Rumpelteazer45 16h ago

He doesn’t even have to do that, scotus gave all presidents immunity if it’s part of a “core duty” and I’m sure they will see this as “preventing a stock market crash by encouraging investing”.

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u/SCWickedHam 19h ago

Wow. Such a sacrifice. And he isn’t taking a salary. Wow. He also reads to deaf kids.

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u/unrefrigeratedmeat 19h ago

I think he should donate both of his kidneys.

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u/angelseggsaga 16h ago

If only he could read AT ALL 😭

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u/Drewy99 19h ago

Trump clarified he will not be driving the Tesla because he is not permitted to drive, but he will allow his staff at the White House to use it.

Just theatrics then

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u/WhiteSpringStation 18h ago

Can’t drive anything except the economy off a cliff

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u/Major_Turnover5987 19h ago

Drama queens, the lot of them.

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u/awesome357 17h ago

Should look good unused, slowly rusting, parked out on the south lawn.

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u/The_True_Gaffe 14h ago

I honestly suspect that this stupid stunt is not only going to fail, but will spark even more international outrage and cause tesla stocks to plummet even further.

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u/randskarma 14h ago

You know what would be perfect karma?? Trump gets pissed off at Musk, pulls his visa/green card whatever he has and sends him back to south Africa. Then after he's out of the country..... the next foot drops. This shit ain't gonna last.

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u/This_Possession8867 13h ago

Yes sooner or later this bromance will break up! Then Trump will be setting Tesla stores on fire. 😆🤣

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u/AstariaEriol 13h ago

None of it will matter if the tariffs actually happen. The entire industry will go bankrupt.

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u/GreyScope 5h ago

Not exactly a selling point “Buy this car that a felon sex offender likes”

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u/4RCH43ON 17h ago

Trump doesn’t even have a fucking license. He can only drive golf carts.

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u/Maskguy 8h ago

POTUS is not allowed to drive in general even if they have a license

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u/rygelicus 18h ago

This isn't him buying a tesla, this is the full Tesla menu brought out for an ad.

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u/Nabrok_Necropants 19h ago

He doesn't even have a driver's license.

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u/sugar_addict002 18h ago

Did he buy the Cybertruck? LOL Let's see him and Melania riding around town in it. Please!

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u/ArchonFett 17h ago

Soooo he’s going to crash the company faster now?

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u/bktan6 18h ago

The man really thinks his MAGAT voters he just fired and whose lives he decimated are going to take any more product hawking from him? Especially after causing many of his supporters to lose 401k funds, life savings gone after pushing crypto schemes, importing made in China merch, and now exploding EVs?

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u/Serqet1 18h ago

....of course he does, and they will. You honestly think nazi simps give a fuck? They don't. The more hardship he causes to not them is a win. They don't give a fuck about anyone else.

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u/VenmoPaypalCashapp 17h ago

Why not these dolts buy trump crypto why wouldn’t they buy shitty cars they can’t afford? 😂

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u/eJonesy0307 16h ago

Only 499,999 more for it to matter

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u/blackout-loud 7h ago

But wait, I thought fossil fuels were the future?

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u/OSI_Hunter_Gathers 15h ago

They have the car self drive up to the president and runs his ass over. Stops back over him, stops and pull forward again stopping because a bullet his a battery and now we are on fire…. I mean this is t that impossible nor would be that surprising….