368
In early February, an interesting item appeared in the US State Department's largest contract for 2025: “armored Teslas” with a staggering price tag of $400 million.
The entry appeared in an official procurement document, prompting immediate denial from the Trump administration, which insisted that the deal was made during the Biden era.
According to a new report from National Public Radio, the State Department has already received $483 for electric vehicles, along with an additional $000 million earmarked for supporting equipment such as chargers.
NPR reports that it also spoke with a former White House official who believes the Trump administration did indeed intend to buy Tesla for $400 million.
“I don’t think this is a clerical error. It’s probably some rookie at the State Department who decided it was okay to openly buy a lot of Tesla electric cars,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
Interestingly, a State Department spokesperson told NPR on Monday that the $400 million is “tentative” and that no one “intends to waste public funds recklessly.” They also noted that the proposal is in the early stages and does not constitute a signed contract.
Perhaps someone in the Trump administration sincerely believed that Tesla was the best choice for an armored car fleet, and the plan was quietly dropped after public outcry.
