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Tesla enthusiasts are cancelling Model 3 reservations thanks to Musk’s ties to Trump

Published Feb 1st, 2017 8:01PM EST
Tesla Model 3
Image: Tesla

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Elon Musk’s decision to join President Donald Trump’s economic advisory group isn’t sitting well with some Tesla enthusiasts. In fact, some current Model 3 reservation holders have pro-actively canceled their reservation as a way to protest Musk’s involvement with the Trump administration.

Though hardly a widespread phenomenon, the cancellations underscore the tricky position that some tech companies with even a loose affiliation to Trump are finding themselves in.

Earlier this week, one Model 3 reservation holder and self-proclaimed Tesla fan took to Twitter and explained why he reluctantly cancelled his Model 3 reservation:

By serving on the President’s advisory council, and by taking positions that are apparently acquiescing to the Trump administration (such as dismissing the possibility of the repeal of the Muslim ban), Elon Musk is enabling a racist and xenophobic regime commit atrocities. This is unacceptable to me, and therefore I’ve cancelled my model 3 reservation. I will urge other reservation holders to do the same. I request that Elon please do a better job at speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

As another example, one former Model 3 reservation holder told Buzzfeed that Musk, especially as someone dead set on colonizing Mars, “should not be scared to voice opinions counter to the Trump administration.” In turn, the former reservation holder decided that “speaking with our dollars is really the most effective way to get through to business people.”

All that said, it’s not as if Musk has exactly been silent on the matter. Over the weekend, Musk fired off a pair of tweets expressing his dismay at Trump’s new immigration policies.

Yoni Heisler Contributing Writer

Yoni Heisler has been writing about Apple and the tech industry at large with over 15 years of experience. A life long expert Mac user and Apple expert, his writing has appeared in Edible Apple, Network World, MacLife, Macworld UK, and TUAW.

When not analyzing the latest happenings with Apple, Yoni enjoys catching Improv shows in Chicago, playing soccer, and cultivating new TV show addictions.