Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) has come forward as the leader of a social media campaign targeting President Donald Trump. The campaign, which involved 22 Senate Democrats, was a response to a challenge thrown by billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.
What Happened
Musk, the CEO of Tesla Inc., had proposed to gift a Cybertruck to anyone who could authenticate the authorship of the campaign script, which he labeled as “propaganda”. The campaign comprised of nearly minute-long videos posted by the senators on their social media platforms, lambasting Trump’s “broken promises” on cost reduction for Americans.
Booker’s Response
Booker, the head of the Senate Democratic Leadership Team, retorted to Musk’s challenge, asserting, “Clearly you are triggered by the truth. It was me. Keep your truck.”
The Campaign
The videos underscored the escalating prices during Trump’s presidency and his early term actions, including pardoning Jan. 6 insurrection rioters and permitting Musk to “take a chainsaw to vital government programs for Americans”.
Criticism and Backlash
The campaign was met with criticism from conservative voices, including Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and ex-GOP aide Scott Jennings, who advocated for more authenticity in politicians.
Why It Matters
Musk’s political involvement has been growing, as evidenced by his role in assisting Trump with the Department of Government Efficiency. However, this political association has seemingly impacted Tesla’s sales.
Tesla’s Sales
- Tesla’s sales in California dropped by 12% in 2024, raising questions about whether Musk’s political support for Trump was hurting the brand.
- By March, Tesla’s sales continued to plummet in Europe, with some countries experiencing over a 40% drop.
- Since 2025 began, Tesla stock has fallen by almost 30%, with an over 30% fall registered in the last month alone.
Price Action
Tesla shares dropped 4.4% to $272.04 during Tuesday’s regular session but rebounded nearly 2.4% in after-hours trading.
Additional Resources
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