Trump Praises Elon Musk as Flying Tesla Roadster Turns Science Fiction Into Reality
President Trump reacted Friday after Elon Musk unveiled a flying Tesla Roadster prototype during a Thursday evening expo in Texas. The demonstration showcased a vehicle designed to push far beyond the limits of a traditional automobile.
Musk said the new vehicle “will be an actual car that’s on the roads.” During the event, the next-generation Tesla Roadster was seen hovering off the ground, flipping over multiple cars and a semi-truck cab, and landing safely.
The Roadster was also presented as capable of going from 0 to 60 mph in under one second. The reported acceleration figure was 0.81 seconds, adding another dramatic element to an already eye-catching demonstration.
Trump described the achievement as something “nobody ever thought possible” while praising Musk’s innovation. The president’s reaction came as the flying vehicle quickly drew attention for turning what once sounded like science fiction into a real-world prototype.
The vehicle shown at the expo is not yet ready for general availability. The prototype unveiled this week will not be available until 2028. Even so, the demonstration was described as an enormous step toward making flying cars a reality.
When asked what he thought about seeing a flying car in real life, Trump pointed to a recent honor given to Musk. Trump noted that he had awarded Musk the National Medal of Science earlier this month and highlighted the significance of Musk’s work.
“I’m very happy for Elon because I think he’s— we just gave him the science award along with five other people, and he deserves it,”
Trump followed that praise with a short assessment of the vehicle.
“It’s great.”
He also joked that the new Roadster might not be his personal choice for getting around. Trump said:
“I don’t know from a standpoint whether or not you’re going to see me in that car, but it’s pretty impressive, very impressive.”
The president then placed the Tesla demonstration in a broader national context, arguing that American innovation is reaching territory that once seemed impossible.
“We’re doing, as a country, things that nobody ever thought possible,”
The full Tesla Roadster expo appears below: