Donald Trump alleges Tesla boycott is “illegal”, plans to purchase company in support of mask production

Donald Trump announced that he was purchasing a “brand new Tesla” and placed blame on the “radical left-handed man” who he claimed was orchestrating an “illegal” boycott. This announcement followed a significant drop in Tesla’s stock price, the worst in nearly five years.

During a press conference, President Trump also declared his intention to classify the violence against Tesla showrooms as domestic terrorism, responding to a reporter’s suggestion that such actions should be labeled as such.

He mentioned that he had spoken with Elon Musk and his son on his White House driveway, with a selection of Tesla cars parked for his choosing. Trump ultimately opted for a red Model S, praising Musk’s contributions to the country.

Trump went on to accuse the “radical left madman” of attempting to illegally boycott Tesla and harm the American automaker, posting his remarks on True Social and affirming his commitment to stopping the damaging boycott efforts.

Despite claims of the boycott being illegal, the Supreme Court ruling from 1972 protects the right of Americans to peacefully protest against private companies, challenging Trump’s stance on the matter.

Tesla’s stock has seen significant declines amid protests and threats linked to Trump’s tariff plans. The TeslaTakeown Group, organizing anti-Tesla protests, insists on their right to peaceful demonstrations outside Tesla showrooms.

Reports indicate a sharp drop in Musk’s net worth over the past year, impacting Tesla’s profits. Tesla board members, including Musk’s brother, have sold off millions in stocks, while Tesla car sales have also declined.

The boycott against Tesla emerged in response to Musk’s controversial “Doge” initiative and concerns over lack of transparency in federal spending. Polls suggest mixed public sentiment towards Musk’s influence and actions.

Source: www.theguardian.com

X, owned by Musk, files lawsuit against Unilever, Mars, and CVS for alleged participation in ‘massive advertiser boycott’

On Tuesday, Elon Musk’s social media platform X filed a lawsuit against a global advertising coalition and several major companies, including Unilever, Mars, and CVS Health. The lawsuit alleges that they illegally conspired to alienate the social network and intentionally cause it to lose revenue, claiming they engaged in a “massive advertiser boycott.”

Company X filed the lawsuit against the World Federation of Advertisers and the companies in federal court in Texas on Tuesday.

“We’ve been trying for peace for 2 years, now it’s war,” Musk tweeted on Tuesday.

The lawsuit claims that advertisers, through the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, withheld “billions of dollars in advertising revenue” from X, violating U.S. antitrust law.

X CEO Linda Yaccarino stated, “When the marketplace of ideas is restricted, people hurt. A few should not have a monopoly on what is monetized.” She expressed concern that the boycott aimed to deprive X of its users.

The World Advertising Federation, Unilever, Mars, CVS Health, and Ørsted did not provide immediate comments on the lawsuit.

X’s advertising revenue declined after Musk acquired the company in 2022. The lawsuit mentions the surge in anti-Semitic content on X following changes made by Musk and a pending trial against Media Matters in April 2025.

The Responsible Media Initiative was launched in 2019 to address harmful content monetization. X claims to meet or exceed the standards set by the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, seeking damages and an injunction to prevent further withholding of advertising dollars.

The complaint alleges that Company X has become less competitive in digital advertising sales.

Source: www.theguardian.com