Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) is living a “sad existence” for cheering the demise of Elon Musk‘s car company, the White House said Wednesday.
“I think that’s quite sad,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said when asked about the former vice presidential nominee. “But I think Gov. Walz, unfortunately, is living a sad existence after his devastating defeat on Nov. 5.”
Walz raced back into the headlines this week for saying he gets a “little boost” watching Tesla stock fall, despite the fact that the company makes climate-friendly electric vehicles and millions of American shareholders are suffering from the fall.
If you need a little boost during the day, check out Tesla stock
pic.twitter.com/KBEh6pOZLW
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) March 19, 2025
“On the iPhone, they’ve got that little stock app. I added Tesla to it to give me a little boost during the day,” Walz said as the audience laughed during a recent appearance. “[The price is] $225 and dropping! … And if you own one, we’re not blaming you. You can take dental floss and pull the Tesla [logo] off.”
That quip led to the question directed at Leavitt, who was glad to point out Walz and former Vice President Kamala Harris’s loss to President Donald Trump last year.
The remarks from both Walz and Leavitt are part of a wider battle over Tesla’s fate now that its owner, Elon Musk, is a major figure aiding the Trump administration in laying off thousands of federal workers.
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Though Tesla stock remains well above its price a year ago, figures on the political Left have celebrated its fall from a postelection high of nearly $480 a share.
Trump said he backs the company 100%, buying a Tesla even though he is not permitted to drive as president and promising to go after “domestic terrorists” attacking the company’s dealerships and vehicles.
