Wiktor Wise
Former US President Donald Trump has had a lot to say about electric vehicles (EVs) over the years. While he has supported Tesla CEO Elon Musk and said he would buy a Tesla, he hasn't always been a supporter of the electric vehicle industry. Trump has made comments against EVs, expressing concerns about their range and cost, and his administration has targeted EV charging and federal support for electric vehicles. Trump has also been critical of anti-Tesla protesters, calling for them to be labelled as domestic terrorists and blaming radical left lunatics for boycotting the company.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Trump's view on electric vehicles | Trump has repeatedly criticised electric vehicles, saying they are expensive and have limited range. However, he has also expressed support for Elon Musk and Tesla, stating that he plans to buy a Tesla as a show of loyalty to Musk. |
| Trump's policies on electric vehicles | Trump's administration has targeted EV charging funds and federal support for electric vehicles. They have also prioritised oil and gas in energy policy, revoked a 2021 order by former President Biden that aimed for 50% of new vehicles sold in the US by 2030 to be electric, and implemented trade barriers with China that keep cheaper Chinese EVs off American roads. |
| Impact of Trump's policies | Auto industry experts believe that Trump's policies could significantly slow EV sales, trigger factory shutdowns, and increase planet-warming emissions. |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's criticism of electric vehicles
Despite eventually buying a Tesla, former US President Donald Trump has a history of criticising electric vehicles (EVs).
Trump has a record of attempting to strip away federal support for EVs, prioritising oil and gas in his energy policies. He has tried to freeze EV charging funds, and his administration has suspended the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, which funds the building of charging stations. Trump has also revoked a 2021 order by former President Joe Biden, which aimed to have half of all new vehicles sold in the US by 2030 be electric.
Trump has also expressed scepticism about the practicality of EVs, stating that they "don't go far" and "cost a fortune". He has mocked the idea of all-electric military vehicles, asking: "You're in the middle of the desert and you say, 'You know what, we're running low on electric. Do they have a charger around anywhere?'". At a rally in 2023, he also joked that "you can't get out of New Hampshire in an electric car".
Trump has also criticised self-driving vehicles, stating that he would "stop [them] from operating on American roads".
In contrast to his criticism of EVs, Trump has expressed support for Elon Musk and Tesla. He has described anti-Tesla protesters as radical left lunatics and said that he would label violence against Tesla showrooms as domestic terrorism. Trump has also said that he plans to buy a Tesla to show loyalty to Musk and to support a great American company.
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Trump's support for Elon Musk
Despite having made several negative comments about electric vehicles in the past, former US President Donald Trump has shown support for Elon Musk's electric car company, Tesla. In March 2025, Trump announced that he would be buying a "brand new Tesla" to show his loyalty to Musk, whom he called a truly great American. This announcement came after Tesla's worst share price fall in nearly five years, which was caused by a boycott campaign, car owners selling their Tesla vehicles, and activists pushing the public to sell Tesla shares.
Trump also said he would label violence against Tesla showrooms as domestic terrorism, stating that he would put a stop to it because "they're harming a great American company". He made these comments while standing in the driveway of the White House with Musk, Musk's young son, and several Tesla vehicles.
Trump's support for Musk may be related to the entrepreneur's support for him during his presidency. In October 2024, Musk praised Trump's efforts to "protect America from the threat of Chinese automobiles", and in March 2025, he said that Musk's "bet on Trump" would pay off.
However, Trump's administration has also taken steps that could negatively impact Tesla and other EV makers. In January 2025, the administration issued an executive order looking to eliminate "unfair subsidies and other ill-conceived government-imposed market distortions that favour EVs". This included a pause on the disbursement of funds for electric vehicle charging, which could increase the cost of Tesla cars and make it harder for the company to compete in the EV market.
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Trump's plans to scrap federal support for electric vehicles
Despite his recent purchase of a Tesla, former US President Donald Trump has a history of criticising electric vehicles (EVs). During his presidency, Trump made it clear that he intended to strip away federal support for EVs, prioritising oil and gas in his energy policies.
Trump's administration has taken steps to freeze funding for building EV charging stations through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program and other electric-vehicle funding sources, such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This has caused confusion and uncertainty for state Departments of Transportation (DOTs), who rely on this funding to support the development of EV charging infrastructure.
In addition to freezing funding, Trump has also proposed ending tax credits for EV sales, charging, and battery manufacturing. These moves are expected to slow EV sales and trigger a wave of factory shutdowns and cancelled investments, according to energy policy and auto industry researchers. It is also estimated that these policies could lead to an increase in planet-warming emissions of up to 49 million extra tons of carbon pollution in 2030.
Trump has expressed various criticisms of EVs, including their limited range and high cost. He has also suggested that the US military's use of electric vehicles is impractical, scoffing at the idea of needing to charge electric tanks in the middle of the desert. Despite his criticisms, Trump has shown support for Elon Musk and Tesla, blaming the Radical Left Lunatics for boycotting the company and stating that he would label violence against Tesla showrooms as domestic terrorism.
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Trump's criticism of anti-Tesla protests
Despite his previous criticism of electric vehicles, former US President Donald Trump has voiced his support for Tesla CEO Elon Musk amid anti-Tesla protests. Trump has criticised the protests, blaming "radical left lunatics" for "illegally and collusively boycotting the company" and causing its share price to fall. He has also threatened that those who use violence against the company will go through hell.
Trump's comments came in response to a question from a reporter about the recent violence at Tesla dealerships across the country, including the smashing of windows at a Tesla dealership in Tigard, Oregon. Trump said he would label such actions as domestic terrorism, stating that he would ""put a stop to it" because protesters are harming a great American company".
The former president also announced his intention to buy a "brand new Tesla" as a show of support for Musk, who has faced criticism for his involvement in the Trump administration. Trump's support for Musk and Tesla marks a shift from his previous stance on electric vehicles, which he has criticised for their limited range and high cost.
Trump's administration has also sought to strip away federal support for electric vehicles, prioritising oil and gas in its energy policy. This includes freezing funding for building charging stations and ending tax credits for EV sales, which analysts say could significantly slow the adoption of electric vehicles in the US.
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Trump's criticism of Biden's climate policy
Trump has been vocal about his criticism of Biden's climate policy, particularly regarding electric vehicles (EVs). He has made it clear that his administration aims to strip away federal support for EVs, prioritizing oil and gas in energy policy. This includes ending tax credits for EV sales, charging, and battery manufacturing, as well as blocking California's ability to set its own vehicle emissions rules.
Trump's administration has frozen funding for building charging stations through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program and other electric-vehicle funding sources, such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This has created confusion and uncertainty among state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) regarding the allocation of approved funds.
Trump's policies are designed to limit electric car sales in the US, including revoking a 2021 order by former President Biden, which aimed for 50% of new vehicles sold in the US by 2030 to be electric. Trump's reversal of climate policies has kept companies in the EV charging sector under pressure, and experts predict that these moves will slow EV sales, trigger factory shutdowns, and increase planet-warming emissions.
Trump has expressed skepticism about the range and cost of EVs, stating that they "don't go far" and "cost a fortune." He has mocked the idea of electric Army tanks, scoffing at the notion of needing to find a charger in the middle of a desert. Trump's criticism of EVs and his administration's efforts to roll back climate policies create a new form of "EV range anxiety," impacting consumer confidence and the EV market's growth.
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Frequently asked questions
Trump has said that he will buy a Tesla to support Elon Musk's electric car company, but he hasn't always been a supporter of electric vehicles.
Trump has frozen funding for building charging stations through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program and other electric-vehicle funding through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Trump has called for people protesting against Tesla to be labelled domestic terrorists, saying they are harming a great American company. He also said he would buy a Tesla to support Musk.
Trump has voiced skepticism about self-driving vehicles, saying he finds them "a little concerning". He has also said he will stop autonomous vehicles from operating on American roads.
Trump blamed radical left lunatics for boycotting the firm, but stock analysts said the main reason was fear about Tesla meeting production targets and a drop in sales.
