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In a bizarre twist of events, mainstream media has been abuzz with headlines proclaiming that Donald Trump has purchased a Tesla. It appears that many outlets are hesitant to delve deeper into the fundamentals of this story, opting instead for sensationalism over scrutinyāan all-too-familiar trend in American journalism.
The phrase “snake oil salesman” harks back to the 19th century, describing those who peddled fraudulent or ineffective remedies. These con artists often had accomplices posing as satisfied customers to bolster their schemes. In this contemporary context, one might argue that Donald Trump has taken on the role of the plant in Elon Musk’s latest charade, as the tech mogul attempts to inflate his company’s stock price.
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MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell was quick to identify the farce, stating:
āDonald Trump stood with Elon Musk in the White House driveway, flanked by a few Teslas, and pretended to make a purchase. Various reputable news outlets reported that Trump had bought a Tesla today, but thereās no evidence to support this claim whatsoever. No bill of sale, no check exchanged, nothing signed. The two most awkward figures in America seemed to be posing for a photograph while attempting to salvage Musk’s wealth with this entirely fabricated stunt of Trump pretending to buy a car from the richest man in the world, all without any financial transaction taking place.ā
