President Trump said that Elon Musk is distressed by the planned end of the electric vehicle (EV) mandate and highlighted the subsidies Musk receives. This statement was made in a press release.
"he's upset that he's losing his EV mandate," said Donald Trump, according to The White House. "He's very upset about things, but, you know, he could lose a lot more than that. But Elon is very upset that the EV mandate is going to be terminated. He gets a lot of subsidies."
In June 2025, President Trump officially moved to terminate California’s authority to set its own EV mandate, a policy that had required an increasing share of vehicles sold in the state to be zero-emission. According to Politico, this decision impacts not only California but also the 17 states that had adopted its stricter vehicle emission standards, creating significant debate regarding national EV adoption and climate goals. The move is viewed as a major shift in federal environmental and transportation policy.
As reported by Bloomberg Government, President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw government subsidies from Elon Musk’s companies after Musk criticized the president’s tax and spending bill. Trump suggested that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) should investigate the subsidies, stating that Musk "may get more subsidies than any human being in history." This political tension has raised concerns about the future of federal support for Tesla and its impact on the electric vehicle industry.
According to The Washington Post, Elon Musk's companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, have received at least $38 billion in public funding over the past two decades. Despite Musk’s public stance against government subsidies, his businesses have significantly benefited from federal and state support, such as a pivotal $465 million Energy Department loan in 2010 that helped Tesla develop the Model S. This reliance on government assistance has drawn criticism, especially in light of Musk's calls for reducing such subsidies.
Donald J. Trump is the 45th President of the United States, having first served from 2017 to 2021, and was re-elected for a second term beginning in 2025. According to the official White House archive, his administration has focused on reducing regulations, promoting U.S. manufacturing, and rolling back environmental mandates, including those related to electric vehicles. He previously worked as a business executive and television host before entering politics.
