ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will purchase a “brand new Tesla” to show support for his key ally Elon Musk amid latest protests against Musk’s electric car company.

“To Republicans, Conservatives, and all great Americans, Elon Musk is 'putting it on the line' in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

He praised Musk while accusing the “Radical Left Lunatics” of attempting to "illegally and collusively boycott Tesla" to harm both Musk and his values.

“I’m going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American,” Trump said.

Protests have surged as Musk leads Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), overseeing significant federal workforce cuts.

Tesla cars have been vandalized and a woman was arrested after being accused of trying to burn down a Tesla dealership in Colorado.

“Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” he added.

Tesla faces declining sales in key markets. Data showed Tesla registrations in Europe fell 45% year-over-year in January, and Musk’s net worth has also dropped by more than $100 billion since mid-December, largely due to a sharp decline in Tesla’s stock price.

Some Tesla owners have placed stickers on their vehicles, reading: "I bought it before Elon went nuts."