Democrats criticized President Donald Trump’s recent demonstration of a red Tesla. However, a look back reveals a similar event under the Biden administration. In 2021, President Joe Biden also showcased an electric vehicle at the White House, where he drove a Jeep Wrangler, excluding Tesla from the event.
Trump’s event included SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is also heading up the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The event took place as Tesla’s stock experienced fluctuations, with share prices rising after the White House gathering. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee labeled the Trump administration the “most corrupt administration in American history” in response.
But Biden’s 2021 event also took place on the White House South Lawn. During the event, Biden signed an executive order. It aimed for zero-emission vehicles manufactured in the U.S. to make up half of its vehicle production by the end of the decade.
Musk and Tesla were not involved in Biden’s 2021 electric vehicle event. Musk also took to X, formerly Twitter, to express his surprise, stating, “Yeah, seems odd that Tesla wasn’t invited.”
When asked about why the White House excluded Tesla, White House press secretary Jen Psaki noted that Tesla could be invited to future events. “Well, we of course welcome the efforts of automakers who recognize the potential of an electric vehicle future and support efforts that will help reach the President’s goal, and certainly Tesla is one of those companies,” Psaki shared back in August 2021. “I would not expect this is the last time we talk about clean cars and the move toward electric vehicles, and we look forward to having a range of partners in that effort.”
The Biden administration’s reluctance to meet with Musk supposedly influenced Musk’s departure from the Democratic Party, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Journal reported in July 2024 that Musk had voted for Biden in 2020 and had contacted the Biden White House following his inauguration, but the White House refused to speak with him. The Journal suggested the Biden team didn’t want to upset the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, considering Tesla’s non-union status.
Psaki said that for the electric vehicle event, the administration chose “three largest employers of the United Auto Workers, so I’ll let you draw your own conclusions.”
Others also expressed their criticism of Trump. “I’m sure all the people losing their retirement, jobs, and health care because of Trump are glad to see the White House turned into a car dealership for the richest man on the planet,” Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in an X post.
