Trump wants to get rid of his Tesla: A bright red nuisance next to the White House
Washington. Loitering is part of the job of White House correspondents. You never know how the day will unfold. In case Donald Trump or one of his staffers suddenly feels the need to speak and steps out of the West Wing door, a few cameras are always on hand.
Since Friday morning, however, at least one recording device has been pointed at the steel fence from the presidential building. Beyond the fence lies West Executive Avenue, which is also heavily secured and where select government officials can park. But the journalists' sights are set on not just any vehicle, but arguably the most famous used car in the world—a bright red Tesla Model S with a license plate beginning with "DJ."
"DJ" – it's no coincidence that these are Trump's first initials. The president had only purchased the electric car in March. Not at a car dealership, but at a special sales event in the White House garden. And it was from the Tesla owner himself. "Beautiful," Trump exclaimed upon seeing the model. "I want that in exactly that color!"
They still got along well: US President Donald Trump (r) and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speak to reporters in front of a red Tesla Model S on the south lawn of the White House.
Source: -/Pool/AP/dpa
Now the car is parked a few hundred meters from the Oval Office, and the owner no longer likes it. The Tesla CEO is Elon Musk, and the former political allies are locked in a bitter divorce battle. Musk has even threatened to make public material about the president's alleged connections to the now-deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The dispute escalated dramatically on Thursday. Since then, there has been radio silence.
On Friday morning, Trump gave a brief interview to ABC. He was asked if he would like to talk to Musk sometime soon. "You mean the man who's lost his mind?" he countered. The implied answer was: No. Throughout the rest of the day, the president deliberately avoided getting too close to any loitering reporters. He clearly didn't want to comment on the topic any further.
In any case, the dispute has completely spoiled his enjoyment of the "wonderful" Tesla. High-ranking White House officials told American media that their boss wanted to get rid of the car. The list price for the new car was between $70,000 and $80,000, depending on the options. Trump himself is not allowed to drive it for security reasons. How many miles his friends or staff have put on the vehicle is just as unknown as the price the dealmaker now wants to achieve.
As of Friday evening, no one seemed to have taken an interest. The bright red speedster remained motionless next to the West Wing of the White House. Attentive reporters will be following its fate.
rnd
