Is Elon Musk's political profile and BFF status with President Trump hurting sales of Austin-based Tesla? Maybe — but it's complicated, analysts say. Why it matters: Tesla is by far the U.S. electric vehicle sales leader and long the world's top seller (though it has recently been trading the lead with China's BYD).

Staggering sales drops, swastika-daubed EVs, companies culling fleet models, and fan-forum owners selling their cars—Elon Musk's alt-right antics are seriously impacting his electric car business.

Elon Musk has long railed against the U.S. government, saying numerous investigations and safety programs have stymied Tesla, his electric car company, and its efforts to create fleets of robotaxis an

A State Department spokesperson told Forbes the department has “no current plans” to move forward with the potential contract, which was initiated under the Biden administration.

During Tesla 's ( TSLA -0.03%) fourth-quarter earnings call last week, Elon Musk got investors amped after the entrepreneur spoke at length about the company's AI roadmap and how it's betting big on humanoid robotics.

Global sales are weakening, and new political and economic challenges are casting a shadow over the electric vehicle giant’s future.

Is Elon Musk's political profile and BFF status with President Trump hurting sales of Austin-based Tesla? Maybe — but it's complicated, analysts say. Why it matters: Tesla is by far the U.S. electric vehicle sales leader and long the world's top seller (though it has recently been trading the lead with China's BYD).

Anti Elon Musk protesters crowded the sidewalk outside the Tesla dealership in San Francisco Monday. Chanting things like, “Hey-hey, ho-ho, Trump and Musk have got to go,” protesters waved signs emblazoned with anti-Musk messaging like ‘Don’t Buy Nazi Cars,