Elon Musk Mocks Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Amid 45% TSLA Stock Surge

After months of scrutiny over Tesla Inc.’s falling stock price, Elon Musk has responded to a political critic with a jab of his own.

What Happened

On Friday, Tesla shares closed at $349.98, marking a 44.89% surge over the past month and pushing its market cap to $1.12 trillion.

Musk’s Response

Musk celebrated the rebound on X, formerly Twitter, posting a screenshot of Tesla’s chart along with a pointed message to Governor Tim Walz (D-Minn.): “Yo Timmy, how’s your day bro?”

Background

The quip was a response to Walz’s March 18 comment during a Wisconsin event, where he joked about Tesla’s stock price. The audience laughed, but Musk didn’t. At the time, Musk called Walz a “huge jerk” and “a creep,” criticizing the governor for mocking investors and a U.S. company.

Why It’s Important

Walz, who ran alongside former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race, has been a vocal critic of both Musk and the Donald Trump administration. Musk emerged as a key figure in Trump’s White House during the first 100 days, spearheading major federal budget cuts and layoffs that galvanized Republican support but also sparked public protests.

Recent Developments

Last month, during Tesla’s first-quarter earnings call, Musk announced that he would scale back his involvement with DOGE, limiting his commitment to just one or two days per week going forward. Earlier, the Wall Street Journal reported that Tesla’s board had contacted executive search firms to find a replacement for Musk. However, Tesla denied the claim, calling it false and reaffirming its confidence in Musk’s leadership.

Price Action

Tesla shares rose 2.09% during Friday’s regular session to close at $349.98, before dipping 2.81% after hours to $340.15. Over the past 12 months, the stock has surged 100.17%.

Growth Score

Benzinga’s Edge Rankings gives TSLA a 45.37% growth score.

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