Red Tesla Showdown: Trump-Musk Rift Deepens as Presidential EV Faces Uncertain Fate

A bright red Tesla parked outside the White House is now at the center of a growing rift between President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk. The electric vehicle, which was prominently featured during a White House event earlier this year, may soon be either sold off or given away, according to Fox News reporter Peter Doocy.

Appearing on Fox & Friends, Doocy shared that the Tesla—still bearing Florida license plates—is parked on the White House driveway, but likely not for much longer.

“We’re being told that the red Tesla is going to be either donated or auctioned,” Doocy said. “It’s unclear what exactly the decision will be, but it’s leaving.”

The car’s symbolic presence followed a March event celebrating American manufacturing, during which President Trump chose the Tesla as part of a promotion, even joking at the time that despite owning the car, he wouldn’t be allowed to drive it while in office.

But since then, the mood has shifted.

Clashing Billionaires and Public Fallout

What started as a symbolic gesture has now become a visual reminder of a deepening feud between two powerful figures. Tensions between Trump and Musk had reportedly been simmering behind the scenes for weeks before erupting into public view. Doocy clarified that contrary to speculation, no direct communication was expected between the two men.

“There’s been chatter about a phone call, but officials say that’s not something they’re tracking,” Doocy reported. “There might be staff-level conversations, but no plans for the two to speak directly.”

The White House has remained largely neutral in its public remarks but made it clear that the President remains focused on his legislative agenda, not personal disputes.

“Elon’s having a tough time,” Trump said during a Friday interview. “I wish him well, but I’m not really thinking about him right now.”

Sources close to the President described him as more disappointed than angry. One aide reportedly said Trump seemed “bummed” by how things unfolded, particularly after Musk took personal jabs at Trump and criticized major policy initiatives.

From Partnership to Personal Attacks

Musk, who had previously supported aspects of Trump’s economic vision, ignited controversy when he publicly denounced Trump’s immigration and tax overhaul. In a particularly inflammatory post on social media, Musk even implied that Trump’s name was linked to sealed files in the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein—a claim made without offering any proof.

“That’s the real reason those documents haven’t been released,” Musk posted, tagging the former President directly. “Have a nice day, DJT!”

Trump fired back, accusing Musk of having “lost it” and floated the idea of revoking government contracts linked to Musk’s companies. The President’s allies quickly rallied behind him, including Vice President JD Vance, who avoided direct attacks on Musk but stood firmly with Trump.

“President Trump has done more than anyone in my lifetime to earn the trust of the movement he leads,” Vance wrote on social media. “I am proud to stand beside him.”

Vance went on to challenge the media narrative, saying Trump’s decision-making is anything but impulsive, despite frequent portrayals to the contrary.

Tesla Trouble and Corporate Blowback

Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s own challenges are mounting. His cost-cutting efforts at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era agency that Musk was rumored to be advising, have been blamed for mass unrest, including attacks on Tesla vehicles and a dramatic drop in the company’s stock value.

The Tesla giveaway or sale seems to symbolize the broader unraveling of what once looked like a pragmatic, if uneasy, alignment between a sitting president and one of the world’s richest men.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt weighed in briefly, calling Musk’s outbursts “unfortunate” and pointing to his dissatisfaction with Trump’s recent legislative package as the root of the dispute.

“He’s upset because his policies weren’t included in the One Big Beautiful Bill,” Leavitt said, referencing Trump’s landmark reform bill. “But the President is staying focused on the big picture.”

A Sudden Shift in Tone

In a twist few expected, Musk appeared to tone things down within hours of the most heated exchanges. His change in posture was prompted not by a high-level aide or corporate ally, but by a little-known social media user with fewer than 150 followers. The user encouraged Musk to “cool off” and consider reconciliation, prompting Musk to like and repost the message.

It remains to be seen whether the Tesla sitting outside the White House will serve as a peace offering, a political relic, or a discarded symbol of a friendship gone sour.