Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently faced backlash after making comments about Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, during a town hall meeting. The remarks came amid a significant drop in Tesla’s stock price, which has fallen 41.4% this year. Walz joked about the stock’s decline, saying he added Tesla to his stock app to keep track of it, noting its plummeting value at $225 and dropping.
During the event in Rochester, Walz referred to Musk in a lighthearted manner, saying, "This guy bugs me in a way that’s probably unhealthy." He later clarified that he was joking and acknowledged that his comments might have been inappropriate. "I have to be careful about being a smarta–," he added, suggesting that his intent was not to offend.
Walz’s comments sparked criticism, especially from former Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Yoo, who argued that the governor should be condemning recent vandalism incidents targeting Tesla vehicles instead of mocking the company. Yoo highlighted that Attorney General Pam Bondi had labeled the attackers as domestic terrorists.
The governor’s remarks were made against the backdrop of protests against Musk, who has faced criticism for his role in the Trump administration and his recent comments on government efficiency. Walz expressed frustration about the negative attention Musk has attracted, stating, "They don’t care about the disrespect they have shown to employees at the Minneapolis VA who care for our veterans."
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Walz’s comments will impact his relationship with Tesla and its supporters, as well as how the public will respond to the ongoing controversies surrounding Musk and his companies.