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Tesla Faces Tough Times as Chris Hayes Weighs In on Elon Musk’s Impact
On a recent broadcast, MSNBC’s Chris Hayes took a moment to reflect on the mounting challenges faced by Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk. The segment brought attention to the company’s disappointing earnings report that sparked a flurry of analysis and criticism.
Joining him was fellow MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle, and together they took a critical look at the ongoing struggles of Tesla, fueled by the grim financial figures released in the company’s latest earnings call.
“The encouraging news is that the company is not exactly ‘on the brink of demise,’” Hayes quipped, quoting Musk himself. “This reassuring message came amidst a day filled with unfavorable earnings results.”
He pointed out that mainstream coverage of Tesla’s financial woes often highlights how Musk’s controversial role as a close advisor to former President Trump has notably contributed to the company’s image problems. Explaining the severity of Tesla’s current situation, Hayes mentioned that the company experienced a staggering 71% fall in profits in the first quarter of 2025.
“One analyst described this performance as ‘the worst I’ve seen in Tesla’s entire history,’” Hayes remarked. Interestingly, despite the grim news, Tesla’s stock actually rose by over 5% on the day of the earnings call. This was largely attributed to Musk’s statement on the call where he expressed intentions to devote more time to Tesla operations, stepping back from political engagements.
However, Hayes noted a crucial nuance: “Musk himself is fundamentally the source of much of the turmoil that the Tesla brand is facing,” he stated with evident incredulity. He pointed to a recent CNBC poll that revealed stark divisions in public opinion regarding Musk and Tesla. While “Republicans continue to show strong approval,” Democrats are markedly less favorable, with an alarming 82% disapproval rating. This is particularly concerning for Tesla, as the poll indicated that many of these disapproving Democrats are also potential electric vehicle buyers. In contrast, support among Republicans seems to come from demographics less inclined to purchase electric vehicles, complicating Tesla’s market strategy.
As he welcomed Ruhle to the discussion, Hayes expressed disbelief about the extent of damage Musk has inflicted on the Tesla brand over the past year. “I have never quite seen a brand suffering as Tesla has under Musk’s leadership,” he noted.
The segment also included humorous critiques of Musk’s constantly shifting claims regarding the viability of self-driving cars, underscoring the ongoing skepticism surrounding Tesla’s ambitious promises on autonomous driving technology.
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