As Tesla crashes, MAGA becomes brand ambassadors

The rapid downfall of Tesla stock is one of the most dramatic crashes of a formerly stable and successful company in recent memory.

On some levels, this is incredibly disappointing.

As a climate scientist who sits on a state advisory board for the Maryland clean energy transition, I want electric cars to succeed.

Elon Musk’s flippant, flamboyant and fallacious comments and behavior have triggered global boycotts of companies where Musk owns a controlling interest, including Tesla.

To salvage the dying brand, Musk has enlisted the entire right-wing, extremist ecosphere as brand ambassadors for Tesla.

For years, Tesla’s customer base has tilted heavily toward liberals, made mostly of those with advanced education in the higher income brackets.

Once the most popular vehicle brand for the environmentally-conscience consumer, Musk’s overt support for Nazism has driven much of his base away in the last year.

And the effects are global.

In Europe, Tesla sales were down 50% in January 2025 compared to the same time the previous year — despite recent policies to incentivize the purchase of electric vehicles.

Germany — Europe’s largest EV market — saw a 30% increase in all EV sales over the last year, while Tesla’s sales dropped 70% during the same period.

How did the unpopular populist respond to his company’s rapid descent?

He paid some right-wing people to showcase his cars.

Donald Trump claims he recently bought a Tesla Model S — following a show-room style publicity stunt from the White House grounds.

I say claims because, apparently, he hasn’t paid for it yet.

Even though Trump does not drive, and at more 300 pounds likely can’t fit into the notoriously cramped Model S, the stunt was the start of a far-right push to stop falling Tesla sales and salvage the collapsing stock price.

Then Sean Hannity pulled the same stunt - claiming on X(itter) to have purchased the same model that Trump promised he’d pay for.

Hannity also falsely asserted that “Tesla is the MOST American made car in the country!”

Tesla is a company, not a car.

Hannity bought the Tesla Model S, which is not the most "American-made car."

The Model Y is.

In fact, the Model S ranks #4, behind the Honda Passport and the Volkswagen ID.4. And the ID.4 is electric.