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President Donald Trump came to buy a Tesla. He checked out the lineup, cut a check for a Model S, and told reporters his staff would use it. But when Elon Musk handed him the keys, President Trump leaned back and said, “I’m not allowed to drive.” Here’s the thing: That isn’t true. Presidents can’t drive on public roads, but they can drive on private property—like, say, the White House driveway. President Biden’s done it. President Obama’s done it. Even President Trump himself has climbed into trucks for photo ops before. So was Trump just not into the EV? Or has he forgotten how to drive?

Musk tried hard—President Trump wouldn’t bite

Elon Musk wasn’t subtle. He wanted President Trump behind the wheel of a Tesla. “Do you want to actually drive it?” he asked. President Trump waved him off. “I don’t know if my people can handle this.”

Musk nudged him again. “Do you want to start it?”

Trump squinted at the dashboard. “It’s all computer.”

Musk reassured him, “It’s like driving a really fast golf cart.”

That comparison should have worked. Trump drives golf carts all the time—often on roads at Mar-a-Lago. But still, he refused.

Does President Donald Trump even drive?

President Trump insisted, “I love to drive cars,” but also admitted, “I haven’t driven a car in a long time.” That’s not unusual—most presidents don’t. But with Elon Musk trying this hard, most politicians would have jumped in for a quick lap.

Instead, President Trump spent his time talking up Tesla as an American company, saying, “Elon’s a great patriot,” and promising, “I want to buy one of these.” He also defended Musk from recent protests, saying, “When somebody is a great patriot, they should not be hurt.”

So why did President Trump even show up?

Musk needs a PR win. Tesla stock has been struggling, and Trump’s endorsement could help. Musk hyped up the Model S: “60 miles an hour in two seconds.” President Trump called it “really amazing” and “beautiful.”

Critics called the whole Tesla event blatant favoritism. But previous presidents have done similar photo ops. Biden test-drove EVs at the White House. Obama toured Detroit automakers and praised their cars. Even President Trump himself posed with the now-defunct Lordstown’s electric pickup truck.

President Trump’s Tesla endorsement: All talk, no drive

President Trump promised to “help an American company” and said, “My whole staff is so excited” about using the new Model S. But when Musk handed him the keys, he walked away.

Whether it was disinterest, habit, or something else, Trump skipped what should have been an easy PR win. He’s got a Tesla now—just don’t expect him to be the one driving it. You can see a video of the entire Tesla news conference on the White House lawn embedded below:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.