Trump official in trouble for saying “Buy Tesla”: Here’s what the law says about government officials endorsements

Just a week after President Donald Trump stood in front of the White House lawn to participate in a sales pitch for Elon Musk’s Tesla cars, a member of his cabinet has now made a second plea for the American people to buy into the ailing company.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Wednesday that the stock for the brand owned by Trump’s biggest financial donor (that is set for a ninth straight weekly decline) will “never be this cheap” and that people should “buy Tesla”. The shocking pitch from the man who himself owns Tesla stock through his brokerage form Cantor Fitzgerald, has sparked debate as to whether or not his comments were illegal.

“When people understand the things he’s building, the robots he’s building, the technology he’s building,” Lutnick told FOX, “people are going to be dreaming of today.”

Ethics experts have picked up on the comments and say that Lutnick, a cryptocurrency enthusiast who appeared on Trump’s reality show ‘The Apprentice’ before being appointed as U.S. Commerce Secretary, broke a 1989 law prohibiting federal employees from using “public office for private gain” which includes a ban on “endorsements.”

‘It’s unacceptable... This Tesla thing is not good’

AP says that while Presidents are usually exempt from the rule (which is perhaps why there was no mention of the law during Trump’s sales pitch of the brand belonging to the unelected South African, ministers are not. However, as you may have guessed, many people expect there to be no repercussions for Lutnick.

“They’re not even thinking of ethics,” said Trump critic and former Republican White House ethics czar Richard Painter of administration officials. ”I don’t know if people care... “The use of the president’s name to sell cars, to raise money for a private university, is unacceptable. It never happened before 2016. This Tesla thing is not good.”

There is precedence for such comments being said, but the landscape has changed significantly. Back in 2017, White House adviser Kellyanne Conway faced backlash after urging TV viewers to “Go buy Ivanka stuff,” prompting top government lawyers to intervene, citing ethics violations and warning her against repeating such actions. While experts debated whether the reprimand was sufficient at the time, many now believe similar breaches might go without consequence in today’s political climate.

Related stories

Trump Administration Whoopsie

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth facing scrunity following security breach

Viral

Trump’s viral reaction as crowd yells ‘4 More Years’ at Greek Independence Day Celebration

And if you think that experts going back to a law from the 1980s is too much, Trump himself invoked the Alien Enemies Act which saw over 200 Venezuelans deported from the country. That law is from 1798.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.