The Biden White House explained the snub by noting that the automakers that had been invited were the nation’s three largest employers of the United Auto Workers, a powerful union, and it suggested that the administration would find other ways to partner Tesla. (Union animus towards electric vehicles later became a problem for Mr Biden.)

President Donald Trump toured Teslas on Tuesday outside the White House where he pledged to buy an electric vehicle to support Elon Musk as he faces boycotts for cutting government spending through DOGE.