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Elon Musk has rejected claims that the U.S. government plans to acquire $400 million worth of Tesla Cybertrucks.
The billionaire took to X to dismiss the rumors, following reports on Wednesday that the Trump administration aimed to allocate $400 million for “armored” Tesla electric vehicles as part of one of the State Department’s major contracts for 2025.
“I’m pretty sure Tesla isn’t getting $400 million. No one has mentioned it to me, at least,” he responded to a user who pointed out that the language in the government’s procurement forecast for 2025 had changed within hours from initially referencing “Tesla” to “Armored Electric vehicles.”
The sudden disappearance of “Tesla” became apparent on Wednesday, following reports from Drop Site News and The New York Times.
In the December edition of the forecast, Tesla was explicitly mentioned as an “Armored Tesla.” As of this moment, the company no longer appears in the documentation.
The Independent previously revealed that Elon Musk contributed over $250 million in political donations to support Donald Trump’s campaign to regain the presidency this year.
However, Musk’s vague response raises questions; although he denied that Tesla would receive $400 million, he did not completely rule out any potential financial benefits for his company.
The procurement document lists “Armored Electric Vehicles” as a new requirement under a five-year contract, with estimated costs ranging from $100 million to $500 million.
This development comes as Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, continues to secure significant contracts from the U.S. government for his aerospace firm, SpaceX, even as his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team promises to cut government spending.
Jared Holt, a senior researcher at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue in London, remarked: “Musk has convinced MAGA supporters that he is saving taxpayer dollars, yet he seems poised to profit from a $400 million deal for armored Tesla vehicles with the State Department. Strangely, there are no discussions about slashing that contract!”
An analysis from the New York Times indicated on Wednesday that both Trump and Musk are selectively targeting corruption, while the president “is dismantling anticorruption measures and ethical standards for himself and associates like Elon Musk.”
The Independent reached out to the State Department and Tesla for further comments.
