Minnesota governor Tim Walz attempted to downplay his recent remarks about Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk, saying his comments were meant as a joke but standing by his criticism of the billionaire.
Speaking at a town hall in Rochester, Minnesota, on Saturday, Walz acknowledged his previous jab at Tesla’s plummeting stock price but claimed it was made in jest.
“This guy bugs me in a way that’s probably unhealthy,” Walz said of Musk. “I have to be careful about being a smart–. I was making a joke. These people have no sense of humour. They are the most literal people.”
The controversy began earlier in the week when Walz, during an event in Wisconsin, mocked Tesla’s stock decline.
“Some of you know this. On the iPhone, they’ve got that little stock app. I added Tesla to it to give me a little boost during the day—$225 and dropping,” Walz said. “And if you own one, we’re not blaming you. You can take dental floss and pull the Tesla thing off.”
Tesla shares have plunged 41.4% year-to-date, sparking concerns among investors.
Beyond the stock market, Walz also took aim at Musk’s involvement in the department of government efficiency (DOGE), an initiative focused on reducing the federal workforce as a cost-cutting measure under US President Donald Trump’s administration.
“They’re all butthurt about the Tesla thing, but they don’t care about the disrespect they have shown to employees at the Minneapolis VA who care for our veterans, and they fire them. They don’t care,” Walz said.
He continued his critique of Musk, contrasting the billionaire’s wealth with what he sees as a lack of generosity.
“Maybe it’s just me. If I’m the richest man in the world, I’m like out on the streets handing out money,” Walz said. “It’d be fun as hell just to help people out. Go help people out. Not this guy.”
Walz has a history of calling out Musk, previously referring to him as a “knucklehead.” His latest remarks come amid growing criticism of Musk’s political influence and Tesla’s financial struggles.
