Documents Reveal Inconsistencies in Trump Administration's Denial of $400M Tesla Deal | Carscoops

      The recent document indicates that it was the Trump administration, rather than Biden's, that initiated the $400 million contract.

      A $400 million order for armored electric Teslas surfaced within a 2025 State Department contract.

      The Trump administration refuted any involvement, asserting that the agreement started during Biden’s term.

      Newly released documents indicate that Biden’s budget allocated $483,000 for electric vehicles and $3 million for related equipment.

      In early February, an intriguing line item surfaced on the State Department’s largest contract of 2025: “Armored Tesla (Production Units)” with a hefty price tag of $400,000,000. This entry appeared on an official procurement document, prompting immediate denials from the Trump administration, which claimed the deal was initiated under Biden. However, emerging evidence suggests that this may not be entirely correct.

      As reported by NPR, which states it has acquired a new document from the State Department, the budget details for the 2025 fiscal year reveal a different perspective. It shows only $483,000 allocated for electric vehicles and an additional $3 million set aside for supporting equipment such as chargers, totaling nearly $3.5 million. There is no mention of hundreds of millions for armored Teslas.

      NPR also spoke with a former White House official who believes the Trump administration intended to purchase $400 million worth of Teslas. “I don’t think this is a clerical error. It was likely someone new at the State Department who decided, ‘OK, we’re going to do this with Tesla,’” they stated on the condition of anonymity.

      Interestingly, a spokesperson for the State Department mentioned to NPR on Monday that the $400 million was merely “an estimate” and that “the Department of State has no intention to proceed with the solicitation.” They clarified that the proposal was still in its preliminary stages and was not yet a complete contract, but was designed “strictly to gather information.”

      Elon Musk has also claimed he knows nothing about this deal, suggesting that the truth may lie somewhere in between.

      “I’m pretty sure Tesla isn’t getting $400M. No one mentioned it to me, at least.”— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 13, 2025.

      It’s possible that someone within the Trump administration honestly believed Tesla was the ideal choice for armored vehicles, and the plan was quietly abandoned following public scrutiny. Alternatively, the budget entry could have simply been an ambitious placeholder. Regardless, the deal appears to be off the table for now, but given the rapid developments in this situation, that could change at any moment.

      For what it’s worth, the document submitted to the White House by the State Department raised several concerns about adapting an electric vehicle into an armored personnel carrier. Beyond the need to protect the battery so that attackers couldn’t breach or damage it, the department noted that “finding an electric vehicle that can support the weight of armor and maintain a viable range for protective driving are other initial challenges.”

      Currently, it seems the State Department’s armored Tesla fleet is on hold. However, as the political landscape continues to evolve, this story may not be concluded yet.