Trump called Musk, the controversial leader of Tesla and a new government efficiency initiative, a "truly great American."

It is not illegal for consumers to boycott companies. The Supreme Court in 1982 ruled the First Amendment protects Americans’ rights to protest private businesses.

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
    47·
    2 months ago

    Trump said “radical left lunatics” are “illegally and collusively” boycotting Tesla, which the president described as one of the best automakers in the world. This action, Trump said, was meant as an attack on Musk and what he stands for.

    It is not illegal for consumers to boycott companies. The Supreme Court in 1982 ruled the First Amendment protects Americans’ rights to protest private businesses.

    This is pretty much the reason high ranking government officials are supposed to be divested…

    Also:

    Tesla shares popped more than 4% in Tuesday morning trading. In addition to Trump’s promotion of Tesla, the stock may also be helped by a note to clients from Morgan Stanley advising them to pick up shares after the steep decline.

    Sounds like Morgan Stanley doesn’t want to be left holding the bag…

    https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/13/morgan-stanley-ups-tesla-target-gives-bull-case-of-800.html

    Less than two months ago they predicted it would go up to 800 so they told people to buy it…

    Instead it dropped to 200, and they’re still telling people to buy it.

    When an investment company just always tells people to buy a stock regardless of what happens, it usually means they’re heavily invested, so the higher the price the more they make.

    So there likely is illegal manipulation happening, it’s just trying to do the opposite of what’s happening

  • Baphomet_The_Blasphemer@lemmy.world
    36·
    2 months ago

    Hey, anyone heard from the My Pillow guy lately? It’s almost like there’s been a dozen or more recent examples of why it’s a bad idea to tie your political beliefs to your business.

      • officermike@lemmy.world
        8·
        2 months ago

        My girlfriend’s mom bought pillows for herself and gifted us towels, much to our disappointment. The towels are unremarkable.

        • Boddhisatva@lemmy.world
          8·
          2 months ago

          I would have asked for a gift receipt, returned them, then donated the money to Planned Parenthood or something like that. Then given them the donation receipt for their taxes.

    • HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com
      4·
      2 months ago

      I mean those were pretty bad. He likely sold more than he would of to the chumps he grifted. I mean if ben and jerry owned my pillow and it was the same quality I would not have bought one.

    • DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social
      1·
      2 months ago

      Establish a federal Bitcoin reserve with tax money.

      Have Elon only accept Bitcoin for payments from the government.

      Give Tesla another federal contract for billions.

      Buy more Bitcoin to replenish it.

        • DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social
          1·
          2 months ago

          Do you pay taxes? Do the price of your goods rise because corporations pay taxes?

          When the government does something, it was a collective pool of resources that paid for it. When the government buys anything your productivity contributed to the purchase. Everyone’s did.

          Are taxes optional (for the working class)?

          This is pretty basic stuff fellas.

  • kryptonianCodeMonkey@lemmy.world
    27·
    2 months ago

    “It’s illegal to boycott” translates to “You’re legally required to buy this product”. Anyone who can’t see that that is completely moronic bullshit already has there head up Trump and/or Elon’s ass for the delicate aroma.

      • kryptonianCodeMonkey@lemmy.world
        6·
        2 months ago

        Bad news for every snowflake Republican that boycotted Budweiser, Oreos, Target, and every other brand that has the audacity to support, serve, or even recognize the existence of LGBT people.

        • Kornblumenratte@feddit.org
          4·
          2 months ago

          telling others not to buy something from Trump’s buddies is verboten. Remember: it’s the President’s burden to interpret the law.

    • HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com
      2·
      2 months ago

      before I was this specifically about it I made a comment to him buying one mentioning he said this. oh yeah a government that views not consuming in the right way. totally not an authoritarian nightmare.

  • brucethemoose@lemmy.world
    16·
    2 months ago

    Trump is just throwing fuel onto the fire, it’s all he knows how to do.

    The problem is Tesla was politicized. Now they are very politicized.

    Like, if I was a Tesla CEO or board member trying to save the company, I would have begged him not to do this.

  • Wilco@lemm.eeEnglish
    14·
    2 months ago

    Soooo … Trump thinks he can force people to buy Teslas? Just like Elon is trying (and failing) to sue companies for not advertising on Twitter.