On Tuesday, Donald Trump transformed the White House lawn into a Tesla showcase in an effort to boost his supporter’s brand.
However, a remark from the president has left people puzzled — does he actually know how to drive the vehicle he ultimately purchased?
Here's what happened.
The Tesla ad
Surrounded by Elon Musk and a throng of journalists, Mr Trump test drove a new vehicle on the White House driveway on Tuesday.
The president came prepared with bundles of paper containing pricing details for each car model along with a sales pitch promoting the company’s products.
Recently, Tesla has faced challenges in the stock market, dropping 45 percent from its peak value of $1.5 trillion back in December when the price was recorded on Tuesday.
Mr Trump informed the assembled journalists that he wished to "send a message" by buying a car from the firm, as Mr Musk had been "unjustly treated."
I plan to make a purchase, and I intend to do so primarily because, first off, it’s an exceptional item, top of its class, and secondly, due to the fact that this individual has dedicated their efforts and existence entirely to bringing this about.
I believe he's being mistreated by a rather small group of individuals, and my aim is to make everyone aware that one shouldn’t face penalties for being a devoted patriot, which he undoubtedly is.
On Truth Social, Mr Trump was earlier falsely claimed "Illegal boycotts" were being carried out by "radical left extremists" against the electric vehicle firm.
He dismissed the notion that purchasing a new vehicle from the planet’s wealthiest individual would be poorly received by his followers who are grappling with cost increases due to taxes imposed on imports from trading nations.
"I believe they will excel," he told a journalist in response.
I believe our nation was forced into this situation; we needed to take action because other countries have seized our economic opportunities and stolen our employment prospects.
The initial modification of the US Constitution safeguards Americans' ability to demonstrate against private enterprises.
The president finally opted for a red Model S, stating he would settle the payment with a cheque.
All of this is controlled by computers," he remarked while gazing at the dashboard. "It’s amazing, wow.
Why isn't Donald Trump able to operate a car?
If you heard Mr Trump's remarks to the media, you might have picked up on his apparently conflicting statement: he could end up purchasing a vehicle, yet isn’t permitted to operate it.
Here comes the unpleasant part: I can’t operate a vehicle since, well, it’s been ages since I last drove, and driving cars is something I really enjoy.
I plan to host it at the White House and will allow my team and others from the venue to utilize it. Everyone is quite enthusiastic about this. The surprising part is that I am prohibited from using it myself.
One of the best parts of my life is that I enjoy driving cars, though I'm not permitted to do so.
It's not because he lacks the knowledge; rather, it's a component of the Secret Service security protocol.
What are the regulations concerning presidents operating vehicles?
Former US presidents, current ones, and vice-presidents are prohibited from driving on public roads.
Rather, they should be managed by their security personnel, who are skilled in executing evasive and defensive driving techniques.
This rule may not be an official law, but it is strictly followed, and generally speaking, presidents comply with it.
Additionally, this does not apply when they are on private land; thus, golf carts at country clubs and vehicles around vast estates appear to be favoured choices for automobile enthusiast presidents looking to drive.
Has it happened before that presidents have driven themselves?
It appears that many ex-presidents have an affinity for automobiles, even though they can only drive them on personal estates.
Appearing on the The first episode of season three for Jay Leno's Garage in 2017 When George W. Bush piloted a Ford pickup truck around his family’s ranch in Texas, he disclosed that he had not been behind the wheel of an ordinary car for over twenty years.
Joe Biden is also an alumnus of Jay Leno's Garage, similar to him. appeared on the show when he was serving as vice-president under President Obama.
He mentioned the tight Secret Service security team, noting that they had allowed an exemption for filming alongside the comedian. The scene shows him speeding away with smoke pouring from tires, while Leno occupied the passenger seat.
During his presidency, former President Barack Obama achieved a "lifelong ambition" by driving a 1963 Corvette. featured in Jerry Seinfeld's Comedians in Cars GettingCoffee .
However, they were restricted to the White House premises, as a guard informed Mr. Obama that he couldn’t unlock the gates to allow them to depart.
Regarding Mr Trump, his fascination with automobiles has been noted several times throughout the years.
A widely known clip posted on social media by his spouse, Melania Trump, captures Mr. Trump tuning into Taylor Swift’s music while driving on a highway back in 2014.
Over the years, he has had ownership of several luxury vehicles, such as a Rolls-Royce Phantom and Silver Cloud.
More recently, during the previous year’s presidential campaign, he spent some time driving a refuse vehicle on an airport runway.
