After the failed Democrat vice-presidential candidate publicly celebrated Tesla’s plummeting stock price, Elon Musk blasted Tim Walz as a “huge jerk” and “creep.”
Walz mocked the American electric vehicle company’s financial struggles while Minnesota’s own state pension fund holds nearly 1.8 million shares of Tesla stock, effectively cheering against his own constituents’ retirement investments.
The confrontation began when Walz openly gloated about adding Tesla to his iPhone stock app to give himself “a little boost during the day” while watching the company’s share price drop.
“On the iPhone, they’ve got that little stock app. I added Tesla to it to give me a little boost during the day — $225 and dropping,” Walz told the crowd during an event in Wisconsin.
When asked about his comments later, Walz dismissed concerns by claiming, “I was making a joke. These people have no sense of humor.”
His attitude toward Tesla comes as the company’s stock has dropped nearly 50% since President Donald Trump took office.
This decline has been fueled in part by left-wing boycotts and organized vandalism against Tesla properties.
Musk did not hold back in his response to Walz’s mockery by saying:
“I mean, you have Tim Walz, who’s a huge jerk, you know, running around on stage with the Tesla stock price, where the stock price had gone in half, and he was overjoyed. What an evil thing to do. What a creep. What a jerk. Like who derives joy from that?”
The situation has become even more troubling as Tesla properties face increasing vandalism in left-leaning cities like Portland and Seattle.
These attacks have included Molotov cocktail assaults, shootings, and arson attempts, which the Trump administration is now investigating as possible domestic terrorism.
Prominent businessman Kevin O’Leary called Walz’s remarks “beyond stupid,” particularly given that Tesla’s stock decline would harm Minnesota’s state pension funds.
The hypocrisy was not lost on conservative commentators who pointed out that Walz was essentially cheering against the financial interests of his own state’s retirees.
While Walz celebrates Tesla’s woes, President Trump has demonstrated his support for domestic manufacturing by purchasing a Tesla during a White House ceremony.
This starkly contrasts the growing campaign of intimidation against Tesla customers and the destruction of Tesla properties.
“Think it would help sales if dealerships are being firebombed? Of course not. And Tesla customers are being intimidated all over the country and all over Europe. Does that help Tesla?” said Musk.
Musk, who serves as Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief, emphasized that his government role actually puts his companies at a disadvantage rather than benefiting them as critics claim.
“It’s actually disadvantageous for me to be in the government, not advantageous,” Musk explained, noting that his position limits his ability to lobby for policies that would help his businesses.
