Tesla hypocrisy: Dems continue investing in Elon Musk company despite painting him as villain

Despite their rhetoric, some Democrats are investors in the company currently bearing the brunt of the Musk hatred. Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, Gil Cisneros, D-Calif., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., have all purchased Tesla shares since President Donald Trump's inauguration.

As of March 2025, several other House Democrats, including Reps. Pat Ryan, D-N.Y., Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., Adam Smith, D-Wash., and Dwight Evans, D-Pa., also remain invested in Tesla.

He also slammed Musk personally, saying, "He basically bought himself the presidency of the United States" and "I have no doubt he is the one calling the shots."

Just days later, however, Cisneros purchased between $1,001 and $15,000 worth of Tesla stock as the company faced a protracted decline in value, likely due to Musk's sudden wane in popularity.

On Feb. 11, Gottheimer issued a statement in which he went full scorched earth on Musk, saying, "the risks to Americans' privacy and financial security from Musk's unchecked access are not only unacceptable, but also outright dangerous."

"My constituents are deeply concerned about Elon Musk having unrestricted access to their Social Security numbers, tax refunds, health, and bank account information," said Gottheimer, adding, "To be clear: No one elected Elon Musk or entrusted him with keeping sensitive data from falling into the hands of our adversaries."

Around the same time, however, Gottheimer disclosed he purchased up to $45,000 in Tesla stock.

This month, as anti-Musk rhetoric and attacks began bursting into literal flames, Gonzalez, who said "DOGE's action is incredibly concerning," purchased between $65,000 and $150,000 worth of Tesla stock.

"It is getting dangerous, and the White House wholeheartedly condemns it, and we applaud Attorney General Pam Bondi for investigating these acts as domestic terrorism because that is what they are," said Leavitt. "It's very clear that the Democrat Party no longer stands for anything; they only stand against Donald Trump, even if it means contradicting themselves."