Critics said the spectacle stretched the bounds of what is ethical in the White House, with Trump openly seeking to boost the financial fortunes of Elon Musk.

I prefer vehicles with internal combustion engines that burn fuels that we have in the United States," Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said.

Instead of the presidential motorcade of large, black SUVs lined up on the driveway of the South Lawn, there were five Teslas for Trump to peruse. Trump announced his intention to buy a Tesla on Monday night to support his close adviser billionaire Elon Musk,