Elon Musk Responds to Tim Walz Comments on Tesla's Declining Stock Price

Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla, retaliated against Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, after the former Democratic vice presidential candidate made fun of Tesla's declining stock price in a public speech.

As he joked about the electric vehicle giant's recent market decline, Walz, who was on the Democratic ticket that lost the 2024 election, took a jab at Musk and Tesla. "To get a little boost throughout the day, I added Tesla to [my iPhone stock app]." Walz said, "If you own one, we're not blaming you. 225 and dropping." You can remove the Tesla device with dental floss. Just telling."

Musk, who is renowned for his incisive social media answers, took exception at the remark. The billionaire responded in a post on X (previously Twitter) by making fun of Vice President JD Vance, the Republican who defeated Walz. "Sometimes when I need a little boost, I look at the @JDVance portrait in the @WhiteHouse and thank the Lord," Musk tweeted.

The swap occur during a difficult time for Tesla, as market concerns about the declining demand for electric vehicles and growing competition have put more pressure on the company's shares. 

Tesla's Declining Stock and Violent Target

Due to worries that Musk's connections to Trump and government budget cuts are harming the company's reputation, Tesla's stock dropped 5.3% on Tuesday. Additionally, competition is growing as China's BYD unveiled an incredibly quick charging method that threatens Tesla's hegemony and could reduce its market share.

Tesla's market decline coincides with a string of violent occurrences surrounding the automaker. Soon after Elon Musk was named head of the Department of Government Efficiency by Donald Trump, violent attacks and destruction against Tesla properties began to occur both domestically and abroad in protest of Musk and the Trump administration's policies in general. Gunfire, Molotov cocktails, and arson have been used against vehicles, particularly Cybertrucks, charging stations, and showrooms. Major occurrences are being looked at by authorities in several locations, including Las Vegas, Colorado, South Carolina, and the Pacific Northwest.

Musk points the finger to "leftwing organizations," but Trump has declared that he views it as "domestic terrorism" and has threatened severe punishment.