Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently found himself in hot water over remarks he made regarding Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, following a notable decline in the electric vehicle manufacturer’s stock prices. During a town hall meeting held in Rochester, Minnesota, Walz sought to clarify these statements, which he characterized as humor.

Background of the Controversy

Earlier in the week, while attending an event in Wisconsin, Walz made a comment about Tesla’s stock performance. He mentioned having added Tesla’s stock to his iPhone’s stock app and remarked on its plummeting value: “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,” he said. He also humorously suggested that Tesla owners could remove the company’s logo “with dental floss.”

As of March, data indicates that Tesla’s stock had declined by 41.4% year-to-date.

Walz’s Response and Further Comments

During the Rochester town hall, Walz acknowledged the backlash his jokes received. “This guy bugs me in a way that’s probably unhealthy,” he stated, 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.”

He further explained, “But my point was, they’re all mad, and I said something I probably shouldn’t have about a company.” His remarks aimed to address the interpretation of his comments as disrespectful rather than humorous.

Criticism of Musk

Walz did not shy away from criticizing Musk for his involvement in initiatives that aim to reduce the federal workforce. Regarding Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, Walz expressed discontent, saying, “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. They don’t care.” He added, “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. Not this guy.”

Recent Vandalism Incidents

The tension surrounding Musk has been heightened by recent incidents of vandalism against Tesla vehicles, which some attribute to protests against Musk’s affiliation with former President Donald Trump’s administration.