Trump told reporters he would write a check for the car, which retails for roughly $80,000, and leave it at the White House so his staff can drive it. The president also said he hopes his purchase will boost Tesla,

Critics said the spectacle stretched the bounds of what is ethical in the White House, with Trump openly seeking to boost the financial fortunes of Elon Musk.

President Donald Trump held a promotional event for Tesla at the White House. Elon Musk accompanied him and the two essentially provided a sales pitch about the automaker. Their efforts led to a slight bump in Tesla stock price after an abysmal few months.