Does Donald Trump own a car?
Donald Trump Goes on Bizarre Rant Against Electric Cars
Over the weekend, former US president and noted reality TV star Donald Trump went on an unhinged rant about electric cars, presumably to pander to a group of die hard followers in Pennsylvania.
His peculiar conclusion? We should get «rid of this stuff,» because charging infrastructure is still lacking in the country. If you’re scratching your head, us too.
It’s a bizarre perspective that serves to remind us that large swathes of the United States still see the electric car as a pointless and expensive replacement of the gas-guzzling automobile, even if that outlook seems increasingly dated in the era of Tesla and increasingly widespread adoption.
Trump’s comments also just didn’t make any sense. Case in point, he reminded the audience that gas prices were much lower during his tenure. Following that logic, though, in the face of soaring energy prices, why undermine the electric car if it serves as a much cheaper alternative?
Then there’s the fact that the US is a global leader when it comes to manufacturing EVs, as Electrek points out, something that certainly should fall under Trump’s purported efforts to «save America.»
Trump also used his time behind the microphone to tell a confusing and incoherent story about a friend, who complained about having to stop during a road trip to charge his car.
This «friend» was only «getting like 38 miles per gallon,» which is almost half of the least efficient EV currently on the market, according to Electrek — assuming, of course, Trump was actually talking about MPGe, or «miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent,» the EV equivalent of miles per gallon.
Sure, EV charging infrastructure is far from where it needs to be in the country. Many chargers still rely on outdated technology that only offer a slow trickle of electricity.
That means, for longer road trips, charging may still prove to be a problem. But the obvious solution is to invest in infrastructure, something that the Biden administration is actively pushing for.
In short, calling for electric cars to be banished is not only counterproductive, but a huge waste of time as well.
Was Trump responding to recent comments made by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who called for Trump to «hang up his hat and sail into the sunset,» arguing he was too old to run again 2024, earlier this year?
As has always been the case, attempting to decipher Trump’s latest outbursts into coherent thoughts is probably a fool’s errand.
If the last couple of years have demonstrated one thing, it’s the fact that EVs are almost certainly here to stay — so why not get ahead of the problem and proactively attempt to fill any gaps in EV infrastructure? The tech exists, even if it hasn’t made it to all parts of the country yet.
Besides, Trump himself was a fervent supporter not too long ago.
«I’m OK with electric cars, too,» he said during a 2020 presidential debate before losing to US president Joe Biden. «I’m all for electric cars. I’ve given big incentives for electric cars. What they’ve done in California is just crazy.»
Inside Donald Trump’s $2million car collection – that he’s not allowed to drive anymore
FORMER president Donald Trump is not allowed on the road anymore, but that doesn’t mean his $2million car collection has vanished.
From a Rolls-Royce Phantom to a 24K Gold Chopper, Trump’s love for luxury automobiles has led to a huge car assembly over the years.
Many people dream about having a car collection like Trump’s, but unfortunately, he cannot drive his opulent cars himself.
With the Former Presidents Act of 1958, former presidents are banned from driving on public property.
The rule was passed to continually keep them safe after their time in the office, and also for security breach purposes.
Once former presidents leave the White House, not only are they banned from driving, but are also unable to go anywhere alone.
They receive secret service protection for the rest of their lives.
Here’s what’s in Trump Garage.
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MERCEDES-BENZ SLR MCLAREN
A hypercar developed by Daimler AG and McLaren Automotive, it is no surprise that Trump owns a stunning McLaren.
Per Ultimate Specs, the $500K luxury car has an «engine that produces a maximum power of 626 PS at 6500 rpm and a maximum torque of 780 Nm at 3250 — 5000 rpm.»
«The power is transmitted to the road by the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) with a 5-speed automatic gearbox.»
ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER CLOUD & PHANTOM
The epitome of luxury and wealth, Trump also owned not one, but two Rolls-Royce vehicles.
From a 1956 Silver Cloud to a Phantom, Rolls-Royce is seen to be one of Trump’s first cars and also his favorite.
«Phantom is better suited for wafting along with delicate inputs to throttle and steering. To say that the ride is smooth would be an understatement—imagine being carried along on a fluffy cloud,» shared Cars and Drivers.
«The Phantom practically levitates over the road; it features a pothole-spotting camera that helps the suspension adapt to road imperfections in real-time.»
LAMBORGHINI DIABLO
Although now sold to someone else, Trump once owned a 1997 Lamborghini Diablo, Italy’s iconic supercar.
Ranging from $199K to $240K, Trump’s particular Diablo was seen on eBay for $460K back in 2017.
«The Lambo has been passed around to several owners since Trump parted with it, but to help ramp up its value, the car has received some special Trump-related treatment from subsequent owners, such as a unique exterior badge with his name on it,» shared Stephen Goldasz with Insider.
TESLA ROADSTER
Per Telsa, the $200K all-electric supercar maximizes the potential of aerodynamic engineering with record-setting performance and efficiency.
Despite a compact design, the six-foot-two former president seems to love his Roadster.
As of now, the new Roadster is anticipated to make a comeback in 2023.
«We are working on the Roadster. I wish we were working faster, but I also wanted to say that, in the time we have been developing it, we have also been learning a lot,» shared Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen.
CADILLAC ALLANTE
With Cadillac being an icon for the rich and famous in America, Trump owned several models from the company.
«He even had a pair of special edition Cadillac limousines named after him, known as the Trump Executive Series,» shared Goldasz with Insider.
Trump revealed that his Allante was gifted to him by Cadillac, and was painted his favorite color, gold. The car usually retails for around $40-$50k
24 KARAT GOLD CHOPPER
Rounding out his car collection, Trump’s last vehicle is a 24K Gold Chopper.
