Trump not allowed to drive red Tesla Model S due to this surprising rule; but does he have a driver's license?

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday shopped for a new Tesla, picking a gleaming red sedan.

Published on: Mar 12, 2025, 17:48:17 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

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US President Donald Trump on Tuesday shopped for a new Tesla at a White House lawn, picking a gleaming red sedan. The purchase comes in a bid to demonstrate his support for Tesla CEO Elon Musk's electric vehicle company, which is facing stock declines and criticism due to his efforts to reduce the federal government.

Trump's purchase comes in a bid to demonstrate his support for Tesla CEO Elon Musk's electric vehicle company, which is facing stock declines and criticism due to his efforts to reduce the federal government.

After sliding into the driver's seat of a Model S, Trump said, “Wow. That's beautiful.”

Musk boarded the passenger side and quipped about “giving the Secret Service a heart attack” while they discussed how to start a car that can accelerate to 60 miles per hour (95 kilometers per hour) in a matter of seconds.

Trump delivers ‘bad news’ on driving car

Speaking at a news appearance on Tuesday, Trump acknowledged that he cannot operate the Tesla vehicle he intends to buy.

Being a President, Trump is prohibited from driving on public highways for security concerns, but he may no longer possess a valid driver's license.

Calling it “bad news”, the President said that he would not be able to drive the car after its purchase and instead, he would let his employees do so.

“I'm going to buy [a Tesla]. Now, here's the bad news: I'm not allowed to drive because I haven't driven a car in a long time, and I love to drive cars. But I'm going to have it at the White House, and I'm going to let my staff use it. I'm going to let people in the place use it, and they all are excited about that. I'm not allowed to use it, can you believe it?”

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US Presidents and security concerns over car driving

For security reasons, US presidents are not allowed to drive on public highways. The Secret Service enforced this regulation in the wake of President John F. Kennedy's 1963 killing.

Moreover, Trump's driver's license status is likewise unknown.

In 2016, Politico acquired a copy of Trump's New York driver's license through an open-records request, which revealed that it was due for renewal on June 14, 2020, his 74th birthday.

Presidents are permitted to drive on private property. In an effort to support local manufacturing, former President Joe Biden drove a Ford F-150 Lightning electric car in Dearborn, Michigan, in May 2021.

Appearing on CNBC's Jay Leno's Garage in 2017, former President George W. Bush said that he still drives on his family's Texas ranch, but he hasn't driven on a public road in almost 25 years.

In 2015, President Barack Obama informed Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he once used an electric car belonging to a visiting former staffer to drive within the South Lawn of the White House.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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