Elon Musk has benefited from his close alliance with Donald Trump, as the president has ousted federal officials who had overseen departments investigating the billionaire's multiple companies.

Tesla trade-ins have reportedly hit a record high amid a brand crisis linked in part to CEO Elon Musk's involvement in the Trump administration. According to the Washington Post, Teslas made up 0.4% of all vehicles traded at traditional dealerships a year ago.

Still, that relief in the United States, where Musk has become one of President Trump's primary advisers, tasked with swiftly cutting federal spending, may not improve the brand's reputation worldwide.

Elon Musk may own X, formerly Twitter, and routinely game the algorithm to boost his content, but sometimes the power of social media is simply too wild