Minnesota Guv Tim Walz clarifies Tesla stock remarks, takes fresh swipe at Elon Musk

Walz also did not hold back in his criticism of Musk’s involvement in DOGE

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has sought to clarify remarks he made last week mocking Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk over the company's stock decline, insisting that his comments were meant as a joke.

Speaking at a town hall in Rochester, Minnesota, on Saturday, the Democratic governor admitted he should have been more cautious with his words but doubled down on his criticism of Musk.

"This guy bugs me in a way that’s probably unhealthy," Walz said, referring to Musk. "I have to be careful about being a smarta--. I was making a joke. These people have no sense of humor. They are the most literal people."

His clarification follows backlash over his earlier remarks at an event in Wisconsin, where he mocked Tesla’s declining stock price, which has fallen 41.4 percent year-to-date as of March.

If you need a little boost during the day, check out Tesla stock pic.twitter.com/KBEh6pOZLW

Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) March 19, 2025

"On the iPhone, they’ve got that little stock app. I added Tesla to it to give me a little boost during the day — $225 and dropping," Walz had quipped. "And if you own one, we’re not blaming you. You can take dental floss and pull the Tesla thing off."

Musk’s allies, including Tesla Autopilot AI engineer Dhaval Shroff, swiftly responded. Shroff, an early member of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving team, accused Walz of hypocrisy, suggesting many critics of Tesla still use its vehicles.

"It’s obvious that this guy hasn’t been in a Tesla ever," Shroff posted on microblogging site X. "I saw this lawyer who was suing Tesla once show up in his own Tesla to sue. I’m pretty sure there are Tesla short sellers who also happily use theirs. The hypocrisy here is also insane. Once you’ve used one, there is no other car that even comes close enough to compete."

Its obvious that this guy hasnt been in a Tesla ever. And Im not sure if a lot of his supporters (the people who vandalise them) have either. I saw this lawyer who was suing Tesla once show up in his own Tesla to sue. Im pretty sure there are Tesla short sellers who also https://t.co/MI5MySOx78 Dhaval Shroff (@dhaval_shroff) March 19, 2025

Musk, in turn, appeared to endorse Shroff’s comments by responding with an emoji indicating agreement.

The Tesla CEO also took a direct swipe at Walz, a Democrat, referencing Vice President JD Vance, the Republican who defeated Walz in the 2024 election.

"Sometimes when I need a little boost, I look at the @JDVance portrait in the @WhiteHouse and thank the Lord," Musk posted on X.

Sometimes when I need a little boost, I look at the @JDVance portrait in the @WhiteHouse and thank the Lord https://t.co/etwL4KocIx

Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 19, 2025

Walz, however, did not hold back in his criticism of Musk’s involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative aimed at cutting the federal workforce. "They're all butthurt about the Tesla thing, but they don't care about the disrespect they have shown to employees at the Minneapolis VA who care for our veterans, and they fire them," Walz said.

He further took aim at Musk’s wealth, remarking, "Maybe it’s just me. If I’m the richest man in the world, I’m like out on the streets handing out money. It’d be fun as hell just to help people out. Go help people out. Not this guy."