US President Donald Trump’s recent visit to the White House with Tesla CEO Elon Musk has raised concerns among ethics experts over whether a president’s endorsement is for sale. The event, which featured Trump showcasing Tesla cars in front of the White House, has been criticized for blurring the lines between what’s considered proper conduct by elected officials.
Experts say that the Tuesday event could imply that the White House and the president’s endorsement are up for sale, with some interpreting it as an infomercial for Musk’s car company on high-profile government property.
William F. Hall, an adjunct professor of political science at Webster University, stated that the event happened hours after Trump posted he was going to buy a Tesla following the company’s mass protests and a major decline in stock value and sales across the world.
Trump later told reporters that he did not deny buying a Tesla to help Musk’s bottom line. He defended his actions, saying that Trump is being unfairly treated by a small group of people and that he is a great patriot who has done an incredible job with Tesla.
However, experts disagree, pointing out that it’s unusual for presidents to lend support to American companies in such a high-profile manner, usually outside the White House at other locations. Delaney Marsco, Director of Ethics for the Campaign Legal Center, stated that ethics laws primarily focus on executive employees serving under the president but not on the president himself.
Marsco added that Musk’s vaguely-defined role as a presidential adviser and his being the CEO of tech companies that do business with the government raised serious concerns. The event has also caused confusion among shareholders and the public, Marsco said.
The move may set an unprecedented standard for future presidents, one that diminishes the objectivity of the executive branch, experts warn.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trumps-white-house-tesla-showcase-raises-ethics-concerns/story?id=119719123