Tim Walz says he was joking about Tesla stocks falling

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz drew criticism last week for his remarks about Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk. However, during a town hall meeting in Rochester, Minnesota, Walz clarified that his comments were meant as a joke and not intended to be taken literally.

At the event, Walz referred to Musk as someone who bugs him in an unhealthy way, but quickly realized that his comments may have been misconstrued. He acknowledged that his remarks may have come across as insensitive and apologized if anyone was offended by them.

The governor’s initial comments were made at an event in Wisconsin, where he jokingly mentioned Tesla’s falling stock price on the iPhone stock app. He quipped about the stock price dropping to $225 and suggested that Tesla owners could remove the logo from their cars with dental floss.

Tesla’s stock has indeed been on a downward trend, down 41.4% year-to-date as of March. This decline has been attributed to various factors, including market volatility and external pressures on the company.

In addition to his comments about Tesla, Walz also criticized Musk for his involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where Musk aims to reduce the federal workforce as a cost-cutting measure. The governor expressed concern about the impact of these initiatives on government employees and veterans who rely on federal services.

Despite the backlash, Walz clarified that he was simply trying to be humorous and did not intend to offend anyone. He emphasized the importance of understanding context and humor in public statements and assured the public that he values transparency and open communication.

Overall, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of thoughtful communication and the consequences of making offhand remarks in the public eye. It also highlights the complexities of balancing humor with sensitivity in political discourse.