Influence Peddling 101

 

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

Tesla has been on a tough run recently, and it couldn't be happening to a more deserving individual than Tesla's CEO and majority shareholder, Elon Musk.   Ever since Donald Trump became President (again, ugh!) nearly two months ago and brought his major campaign donor, billionaire Elon Musk, into the White House with him, Tesla sales and share prices have plumeted.  Trump has placed Elon in charge of cutting the size of government through mass firings and layoffs, as well as targeted firings of people whom Trump regards as his enemies.  It'ss not a popular job from the point of view of government employees, but it is one that Elon charged into with a vengeance and seems to relish.

But the cruelty that Elon has enjoyed dishing out over the past several weeks has come with a cost.   The price of Tesla stock has dropped 50% since Trump and Elon assumed office and began wrecking government and the economy, and this past Monday the company lost 15% of its value in that one day alone.  Tesla sales have slumped, celebrities are excoriating the company, and protesters are demonstrating outside of Tesla dealerhsips nationwide.  The situation is so grim for the electric vehicle manufacturer that Elon had to turn to a professional huckster for help.

On Tuesday there was a row of shiny new Teslas parked along the drive on the South Lawn of the White House where Trump held a combination press conference and infomercial for the cars.  Elon, and his four-year-old son, X, were there as well.  Trump used the event to praise Musk and pimp his cars.  Trump whined that Musk had been treated unfairly, and he referred to protesters at Tesla dealerships as "domestic terrorists."   The elderly politician said that he had bought a new Tesla "Cyber Truck" for his granddaughter, and that he would be purchasing a Tesla car for himself.  Then Trump and Elon climbed into a Tesla together.  It looked very cozy.

Who knew that Donald Trump could drive?  And who knew that he could even fit into a Tesla?

All in all, the sales pitch was a success and Tesla stock climbed 3.8% that day, clawing back a tiny bit of the ground that it has lost since Trump and Musk took office.

It's called "influence peddling," and Trump was using some of his poloitical influence to peddle a few cars;  The man and the job seemed to be a good fit.  Trump looked at though he was born to sell cars.

Stand strong, America.  Boycott Tesla!