Special Poll
Elon Musk and the State Department pushed back Thursday against reports that the agency was planning to purchase $400 million worth of armored Tesla Cybertrucks.
Musk, who has become one of the most powerful figures in the Trump administration, continues to face growing scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest as he navigates his dual roles as both a government official and the head of several major corporations.
As the leader of the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), Musk is at the forefront of efforts to overhaul federal agencies. At the same time, his companies—including SpaceX, Tesla, and Neuralink—have received lucrative government contracts, raising concerns about whether his policy decisions could benefit his own businesses.
What Happened?
Early Thursday morning, Musk denied the alleged contract on X, responding to an online post that referenced the reports.
“I’m pretty sure Tesla isn’t getting $400M. No one mentioned it to me, at least,” he wrote.
A State Department official also refuted the claims, telling Axios that “no government contract has been awarded to Tesla or any other vehicle manufacturer to produce armored electric vehicles for the Department of State.”
What’s the Background?
The Biden administration had previously expressed interest in working with private companies to develop armored electric vehicles, but the idea never progressed to the stage of an official solicitation.
“The solicitation is on hold, and there are no current plans to issue it,” a State Department spokesperson confirmed.
However, the State Department’s 2025 procurement forecast does list a planned $400 million purchase of armored electric vehicles. That entry was initially published last December, before Trump took office, and was edited Wednesday evening—just before the controversy emerged.
Several media outlets, including Drop Site and The New York Times, reported that the listing had originally specified “armored Tesla” vehicles, seemingly referring to Tesla’s Cybertruck, which features a stainless steel exterior.
Tesla has not responded to requests for comment.
The Bigger Picture
Musk, the world’s richest man, has cemented his status as a major Republican donor, contributing at least $288 million to support Trump and other GOP candidates during the 2024 election.
During a press conference with Trump on Tuesday, Musk dismissed concerns about his potential conflicts of interest, instead emphasizing that his role in DOGE is being conducted with full transparency.
With Musk’s corporate empire and government influence becoming increasingly intertwined, the question remains: Should stricter safeguards be in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest, or is his leadership in reshaping government worth the trade-off?