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Donald Trump selected a red Tesla Model S Plaid at the White House on March 11, 2025, and said he would pay for it himself by check and leave it there for staff to use. Contemporary reports placed the car’s price somewhere between roughly $80,000 and $90,000. The “37 recall notices” figure requires just as much qualification: it was a historical count of safety recalls associated with the Tesla Model S line, not proof that Trump’s specific car had 37 open or unrepaired recalls.
What Trump actually bought
During a Tesla viewing on the White House South Lawn on March 11, 2025, Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk looked over several Tesla vehicles. Trump chose a shiny red Model S Plaid—not a Cybertruck and not a Model Y.
According to the official record of the event, Trump said he would write a check for the car. The Associated Press reported that he intended to leave it at the White House for staff to drive. Trump generally does not drive himself because of security considerations, so the vehicle was presented primarily as a staff-use car rather than as his ordinary personal transportation.
The purchase was also a public show of support for Musk and Tesla. Tesla’s share price and vehicle sales had faced pressure amid backlash over Musk’s political activity and his role in the federal government. AP reported that Tesla shares rose nearly 4% on the day of the White House event, after having fallen substantially since Trump took office.
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Was it really a $90,000 Tesla?
Approximately—but $90,000 was not established as a verified final invoice total.
WIRED characterized the vehicle as a roughly $90,000 Tesla and described it as costing “the better part of $100,000.” AP and PBS/AP coverage instead described the selected Model S Plaid as retailing for roughly $80,000. Those figures may reflect differences in configuration, options, taxes, timing, or journalistic rounding.
The most accurate summary is therefore roughly $80,000 to $90,000. The headline’s $90,000 figure is a reasonable rounded characterization from contemporary reporting, but the reviewed public records did not include a purchase invoice, receipt, title record, or other document establishing the exact transaction price.
A White House official told The Washington Post that Trump would pay with his own money. AP also reported Trump’s statement that he would write a check. Those statements establish the announced payment plan—not independently verified evidence that the transaction was completed, the amount paid, or the method ultimately used.
What is a Tesla Model S Plaid?
The Model S Plaid is Tesla’s high-performance version of its large electric sedan. Tesla’s current product information describes the Plaid as using three electric motors, all-wheel drive, torque vectoring, and more than 1,000 horsepower. Tesla also claims a top speed of up to 200 mph when the car is equipped appropriately.
WIRED reported the selected car’s quoted specifications as 1,020 horsepower, a claimed 200-mph top speed, and a claimed 0-to-60-mph time of 1.99 seconds. These are manufacturer or contemporary-reported specifications, not independent performance-test results for Trump’s individual vehicle.
That combination of extreme acceleration and a relatively discreet sedan body is part of the Model S Plaid’s appeal. It is a very different proposition from the more visibly futuristic Cybertruck that many people initially associated with Trump’s Tesla appearance.
Where did the “37 recall notices” number come from?
WIRED counted 37 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration safety recalls associated with the Model S over the model’s history as of March 2025. The reported examples included issues involving airbags, power-steering assistance, door handles, brake discs, and software-related driver-assistance functions.
That is a model-line historical count. It does not mean:
- Trump’s red Model S Plaid had 37 mechanical failures;
- the individual car had 37 open recalls when he selected it;
- every one of those recalls applied to every Model S;
- all 37 campaigns required a physical repair; or
- the vehicle was unsafe to drive simply because the Model S had accumulated that history.
Recall campaigns can cover a wide range of remedies. Some require replacement parts or an inspection. Others are corrected with a software update. A recall can also affect only particular model years, production batches, hardware versions, software versions, or vehicle-identification-number ranges.
A recall that was relevant around the time of the event
One NHTSA filing from February 2025 involved certain 2024–2025 Model S vehicles equipped with specified HW4 vehicle computers. A defect could cause a shorting failure on the computer circuit board and result in loss of the rearview-camera video feed. NHTSA and Tesla identified the condition as noncompliant with federal motor-vehicle safety requirements.
The remedy could involve a software update. If specified symptoms were present, the vehicle computer could also require replacement. This is a useful example of why the Model S recall history was a legitimate part of the story—but it still does not prove that Trump’s exact car was included. Applicability depended on the vehicle’s configuration and VIN.
How to tell whether a particular Tesla has an open recall
A model-level article, news report, or search result cannot determine the recall status of one vehicle. Owners and prospective buyers need the car’s complete 17-digit VIN.
- Use NHTSA’s official recall-search tools to search by VIN. NHTSA also allows general searches by year, make, and model, but those general searches show campaign information rather than the complete repair status of a particular car.
- Use Tesla’s recall lookup with the vehicle’s complete VIN. Tesla’s system is intended to show whether that specific vehicle is affected by applicable campaigns.
- Ask a Tesla service center to confirm whether any recall remedy remains open, especially before buying a used Model S.
- Confirm whether the remedy has already been completed. A vehicle can appear in the history of a recall campaign even when its repair was performed years ago.
NHTSA says recall repairs are free at the manufacturer’s dealership, and Tesla says recall service is provided without charge regardless of the vehicle’s age or mileage. A recall notice should not be confused with a paid maintenance recommendation or a diagnosis that the vehicle currently has a failed component.
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Did Trump keep the Tesla?
The public record reviewed for this report does not establish the vehicle’s final disposition.
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In June 2025, Axios reported that Trump was considering selling the Tesla after his public dispute with Musk escalated. That report confirmed that he had selected a red Model S, but it did not establish that the sale was completed, identify a buyer, or document where the car ultimately went.
It is therefore too strong to say that Trump still owns the Tesla, and it is equally too strong to say that he sold it. Without a public VIN, title record, transaction document, or later authoritative confirmation, the responsible wording is that a sale was reportedly being considered.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the purchase raised ethics and political questions
The event attracted attention because it combined a presidential appearance on official premises, a private purchase, and promotion of a company led by Musk, who at the time was serving as a senior presidential adviser.
The Washington Post reported the White House position that Trump was paying personally. The same coverage noted that federal ethics rules restrict White House employees from using their government positions to endorse or promote private companies or products. The purchase’s payment source and the broader appearance of using presidential visibility to support Tesla are separate questions.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Senator Elizabeth Warren and other congressional Democrats sent a March 2025 letter raising concerns about the White House Tesla event and the use of the presidency and federal resources in connection with Tesla promotion. That letter is an oversight and advocacy document. It represents the lawmakers’ allegations and questions, not a final legal determination that the event violated federal law.
The story was also sometimes discussed alongside a separate proposal involving armored Teslas for the State Department. That should not be conflated with Trump’s Model S. AP later reported that the larger, approximately $400 million armored-vehicle plan was put on hold and that the procurement discussions had begun during the Biden administration. It was a government procurement matter, not evidence about the price, ownership, or recall status of Trump’s personal—or intended personal—vehicle.
What the headline gets right—and what it leaves out
| Headline implication | More precise account |
|---|---|
| Trump bought a Tesla | Trump selected a red Model S Plaid, said he would pay by check, and announced that it would be left at the White House for staff use. The reviewed sources do not provide a receipt or final transaction record. |
| It cost $90,000 | Contemporary reports placed the price at approximately $80,000–$90,000. The exact final price was not publicly verified. |
| The car had 37 recalls against it | WIRED counted 37 historical NHTSA recalls associated with the Model S line as of March 2025. |
| The vehicle had 37 defects | That conclusion is unsupported without a VIN-specific recall record. Some recalls involve software updates, and many may not apply to the particular vehicle. |
| The Tesla was later sold | Axios reported that Trump was considering a sale in June 2025, but the reviewed sources do not document a completed sale. |
What prospective Model S buyers should learn from the story
The practical lesson is not that a Model S with a long recall history should automatically be avoided. It is that recall research must be vehicle-specific.
- Get the VIN before relying on a recall count. Model-year and model-line totals are useful background, not a substitute for a VIN lookup.
- Separate open recalls from historical recalls. A campaign may already have been completed, or the car may not be included in it.
- Read the remedy. A software update, an inspection, and a component replacement have different implications for scheduling and ownership.
- Confirm completion with Tesla or the seller. Keep service records and ask who will arrange any outstanding remedy.
- Do not treat general emergency equipment as a recall solution. A tire inflator, repair kit, or roadside kit may be sensible preparedness equipment, but none repairs a safety defect or replaces manufacturer service.
For used-car buyers, a vehicle-history report may add title, damage, or ownership information, but official NHTSA and Tesla VIN checks should remain the first step for recall status. Paid history services should not be treated as a replacement for those free manufacturer and government resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Donald Trump really buy a $90,000 Tesla?
Trump selected a red Tesla Model S Plaid at the White House on March 11, 2025, said he would write a check, and said the car would be left for staff use. Reports placed the price at roughly $80,000 to $90,000, but the reviewed public sources did not include a final invoice or payment record.
Did Trump’s Tesla have 37 unrepaired recalls?
There is no public VIN-specific evidence establishing that. The 37 figure was a historical count of NHTSA recalls associated with the Model S line as of March 2025. It does not show how many campaigns applied to Trump’s individual vehicle or whether any were still open.
How can I check a Tesla Model S for recalls?
Use the vehicle’s complete 17-digit VIN with NHTSA’s official recall lookup and Tesla’s recall lookup. A general Model S search can show campaign history, but only a VIN-specific search can determine whether a particular vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Was Trump’s Tesla eventually sold?
Axios reported in June 2025 that Trump was considering selling the car after his dispute with Elon Musk. The reviewed sources do not establish that a sale was completed or document the vehicle’s final disposition.
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The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Trump selected a red Tesla Model S Plaid at the White House and announced that he would pay roughly $80,000–$90,000 for it with his own money. The 37-recall figure describes the Model S’s historical NHTSA recall record, not 37 known or unrepaired problems on Trump’s individual car. Only a VIN-specific lookup could answer that question.
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