Trump called Musk, the controversial leader of Tesla and a new government efficiency initiative, a "truly great American."

It is not illegal for consumers to boycott companies. The Supreme Court in 1982 ruled the First Amendment protects Americans’ rights to protest private businesses.

  • enkers@sh.itjust.works
    106·
    3 days ago

    Someone’s being a pissbaby because nobody wants to buy stuff from fascists. Lul.

    This makes me think he just has no idea what a boycott is, because for it to be illegal, purchasing a Tesla would some how have to be legally mandate.

  • Rizo@sh.itjust.works
    19·
    3 days ago

    Funny how they preach “the market will regulate itself” until it regulates itself in the “wrong direction”. And all of a sudden something needs to be done by “the government”.

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
    54·
    3 days ago

    Trump said “radical left lunatics” are “illegally and collusively” boycotting Tesla, which the president described as one of the best automakers in the world. This action, Trump said, was meant as an attack on Musk and what he stands for.

    It is not illegal for consumers to boycott companies. The Supreme Court in 1982 ruled the First Amendment protects Americans’ rights to protest private businesses.

    This is pretty much the reason high ranking government officials are supposed to be divested…

    Also:

    Tesla shares popped more than 4% in Tuesday morning trading. In addition to Trump’s promotion of Tesla, the stock may also be helped by a note to clients from Morgan Stanley advising them to pick up shares after the steep decline.

    Sounds like Morgan Stanley doesn’t want to be left holding the bag…

    https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/13/morgan-stanley-ups-tesla-target-gives-bull-case-of-800.html

    Less than two months ago they predicted it would go up to 800 so they told people to buy it…

    Instead it dropped to 200, and they’re still telling people to buy it.

    When an investment company just always tells people to buy a stock regardless of what happens, it usually means they’re heavily invested, so the higher the price the more they make.

    So there likely is illegal manipulation happening, it’s just trying to do the opposite of what’s happening

    • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      2·
      3 days ago

      Honestly, even if the SC made no commentary with regards to the right to protest businesses… what the fuck would the play even be here? A fine or a tax penalty or something like that if you don’t buy a Tesla…? Seriously, I’m genuinely curious what the theoretical remedial action would be.

  • Wilco@lemm.eeEnglish
    15·
    3 days ago

    Soooo … Trump thinks he can force people to buy Teslas? Just like Elon is trying (and failing) to sue companies for not advertising on Twitter.

      • peoplebeproblems@midwest.socialEnglish
        1·
        3 days ago

        Yeah, but they’re really going to have a tough time getting me to put in any financial information if they do arrest my ass and bring me to the Tesla dealership

    • DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social
      11·
      3 days ago

      Establish a federal Bitcoin reserve with tax money.

      Have Elon only accept Bitcoin for payments from the government.

      Give Tesla another federal contract for billions.

      Buy more Bitcoin to replenish it.

        • DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social
          1·
          3 days ago

          Do you pay taxes? Do the price of your goods rise because corporations pay taxes?

          When the government does something, it was a collective pool of resources that paid for it. When the government buys anything your productivity contributed to the purchase. Everyone’s did.

          Are taxes optional (for the working class)?

          This is pretty basic stuff fellas.

  • Baphomet_The_Blasphemer@lemmy.world
    39·
    3 days ago

    Hey, anyone heard from the My Pillow guy lately? It’s almost like there’s been a dozen or more recent examples of why it’s a bad idea to tie your political beliefs to your business.

  • kryptonianCodeMonkey@lemmy.world
    30·
    3 days ago

    “It’s illegal to boycott” translates to “You’re legally required to buy this product”. Anyone who can’t see that that is completely moronic bullshit already has there head up Trump and/or Elon’s ass for the delicate aroma.