According to news on March 12, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Tuesday that Tesla will double its domestic car production in the next two years. Musk called it an "exercise of trust in the United States" and said the commitment stemmed from "the excellent policies of President Trump and his administration."
Musk made the announcement at the White House alongside U.S. President Trump.
Protests against Musk continue across the United States. In response, Trump also posted a message on social media TruthSocial promising to buy a new Tesla car. Trump then purchased a brand new Tesla Model S red electric car, costing about $80,000, and kept it in the White House for the use of other staff. Trump said he hoped his purchase would boost Tesla's stock price.
On that day, a number of Tesla cars were parked outside the White House, and each model, including the Cybertruck, wore eye-catching red, white and blue colors (the colors of the American flag).
On Monday, Tesla's stock price fell more than 15% due to weak demand for electric vehicles and critics' opposition to Musk's political activities. Tesla shares rebounded on Tuesday, rising more than 5%.
As an important supporter of Trump's presidential campaign, Musk proposed the creation of the Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE) and is currently leading the department to reduce programs in the federal budget that the government deems fraud, waste, and abuse.
Protesters, unhappy with Musk's involvement in politics, have staged demonstrations and sometimes vandalized Tesla vehicles, charging stations and dealerships.
It was reported last Thursday that shots were fired at a Tesla showroom in a suburb of Portland, Oregon, with multiple cars damaged and windows broken. There are also reports that a Tesla showroom in Salem, Oregon was recently attacked with Molotov cocktails, and a man was arrested.
Several Tesla charging stations in Massachusetts were set on fire. Brookline police recently arrested a Boston man who was filmed spray-painting anti-Musk symbols on Tesla vehicles and sharing the video to the social media platform X.
Last week, federal prosecutors in Colorado filed charges against Lucy Grace Nelson, 42, after police found explosives and threatening letters against Tesla at a Tesla showroom in Colorado.