'Corruption in broad daylight': Dems outraged by Trump 'playing car salesman' for Tesla

"Well, I think they're going to do great. I think our country had to do this. We had to go and do this. They've taken away - other countries have taken away our business. They have taken away our jobs," Trump replied. "This economy, in my opinion, is going to blow it away."

Democrats, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., were quick to oppose Trump's Tesla photo op. "Grocery prices are soaring. Housing costs are skyrocketing. Retirement savings are plummeting. But Donald Trump thought today would be a good day to play car salesman," Warren said in a post. 

"Elon Musk just used taxpayer money to host a car sale at the White House after cutting funding for schools and preparing to fire 80,000 VA workers," the Democratic National Committee (DNC) posted. 

"Earlier today, while hard-working Americans were watching their retirement savings plummet, President Trump was filming a Tesla ad in front of the White House to help Elon Musk's failing stock. This is a brazen conflict of interest and corruption in broad daylight," Democrats on the House Committee on Financial Services said. 

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) posted a photo of Musk and Trump standing by the president's new red Tesla, calling them the "most corrupt administration in American history."

"While Republicans were voting to take health care away from families and veterans, Donald Trump hosted a Tesla car show at the White House for his biggest donor. Peak corruption," House Whip Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., said. 

An image of Trump holding handwritten notes about the Tesla cars earned the ire of Democrats on social media. President Joe Biden was often mocked during his term for relying on note cards during press conferences and other public events. 

"After mocking President Biden for using note cards, Trump got caught red-handed today - holding his own notes on what to say about buying a Tesla, a car he clearly knows nothing about. So, is the media gonna make a big deal out of this? Or nah?" Democratic political strategist Chris D. Jackson posted on X. 

But Trump admitted he didn't "need notes," making a jab at his predecessor. 

"Do you want my notes? They gave me notes. I'm not Biden. I don't need notes," Trump told reporters before hopping in the driver seat of his new Tesla Model S. "You think Biden could get into that car? I don't think so," Trump added. 

Despite Tesla's status as the leading manufacturer of electric vehicles in the United States, they were not invited to the White House event in 2021. White House press secretary Jen Psaki explained to reporters those invited were the "three largest employers of the United Auto Workers, so I'll let you draw your own conclusions."

Musk reposted a clip of CNN contributor Scott Jennings defending him to Abby Phillip on "CNN NewsNight." 

Conservatives on social media were quick to defend Trump's Tesla purchase on Tuesday, reminding liberals that Biden drove a hybrid Jeep Wrangler 4xe around the White House grounds to promote his EV initiative. 

"I don't remember you being a Karen when Biden was a car salesman for Jeep," co-owner of Trending Politics Collin Rugg replied to Warren's post. 

"Teslas are the #1 most American-made cars. Unlike GM, Ford, and Stellantis, every Tesla sold in America is built in America by American workers. Tesla's Fremont factory in California is the single most productive auto plant in North America," EV journalist Sawyer Merritt said in a post. 

"I'm going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American," Trump announced late Monday night. 

"To Republicans, Conservatives, and all great Americans, Elon Musk is 'putting it on the line' in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World's great automakers, and Elon's 'baby,' in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for," Trump said on Truth Social. 

"It's really terrible that there's so much violence being perpetrated against people at Tesla, Tesla supporters, Tesla owners, Tesla stores. These are innocent people who have done nothing wrong," Musk told reporters on Tuesday. 

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and fellow Republican House members have called for investigations into the numerous vandalism cases against Tesla vehicles and charging stations across the country. Trump labeled the Tesla attacks "domestic terrorism."