Sean Hannity’s latest pivot has left critics calling foul. The Fox News host, once a vocal critic of electric vehicles, has suddenly become Tesla’s biggest cheerleader—just as its stock struggles and CEO Elon Musk faces mounting financial pressure.
During an interview with Musk on Tuesday night, Hannity went from news anchor to infomercial host.
“I think you know, it was pretty public that I bought one of your Teslas,” Hannity gushed. “It’s like the greatest car ever invented. It really is, and I’m not just saying that. It’s self-driving, it’s got 1,000 horsepower, it goes from 0 to 60 in 0.2 (sic) seconds.”
Musk, never one to turn down flattery, had to gently correct him. “Actually, it’s two seconds,” he clarified. “But still, it’s pretty fast. That’s for sure. It’s faster than any Ferrari, for example.”
Hannity eagerly nodded along, throwing in a comparison to his prized Corvette Z06. “I thought that was the greatest muscle car,” he said. “No, it’s not. I watched the [Tesla] S Plaid beat it.”
The timing of Hannity’s sudden enthusiasm for Tesla raised eyebrows. Just last week, he purchased the high-performance model—coincidentally right after Donald Trump staged a headline-grabbing Tesla stunt on the White House lawn.
Trump, known for his transactional relationships, made sure his purchase was widely documented. He was even photographed holding a prepared notecard filled with Tesla talking points, an apparent attempt to bolster the struggling automaker. Now, Hannity appears to be following the same script.
The reaction was swift. Social media erupted with mockery, with many calling the segment “cringe-worthy.”
“At this point, Tesla should probably be paying Fox ad money,” quipped Aaron Blake of The Washington Post.
“Hannity is turning his show tonight into a 60-minute verbal fellatio of Elon Musk,” wrote independent journalist Aaron Rupar.
One user on X (formerly Twitter) summed it up: “Imagine spending $50K+ on a car just to impress Elon Musk for one second of acknowledgment.”
The dramatic shift in Hannity’s stance didn’t go unnoticed. For years, he railed against electric vehicles, calling them part of the Democratic agenda. He falsely claimed EVs were worse for the environment than gas-powered cars and slammed government incentives supporting the industry.
So what changed? Musk’s embrace of MAGA politics. As the billionaire shifted rightward, so did conservative media’s talking points. EVs went from being a symbol of government overreach to the new favorite ride of Trump loyalists.
But despite the GOP’s newfound love affair with Tesla, its troubles aren’t going away. The company’s stock has plummeted, now hovering at $232.34—less than half of what it was when Trump left office. Musk’s net worth has taken a hit too, with SpaceX now valued higher than Tesla for the first time. His 42% stake in SpaceX is now worth $147 billion, while his 12% Tesla stake is valued at $97.8 billion.
Meanwhile, Tesla dealerships have been targeted by vandals across the country, signaling a backlash against Musk’s increasingly controversial public persona.
Trump himself admitted he hoped his Tesla stunt would help stabilize the company’s stock. Whether Hannity’s glowing review will have any impact remains to be seen. But if Tesla does rebound, it won’t be because of a Fox News monologue—it’ll be because Musk can convince more than just Trump’s base to buy in.
Watch the full interview below:
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Most people love a winner,,,
Not long ago democrats were buying Tesla vehicles and wanting to force us all to buy electric vehicles. Now they are terrorizing owners and dealers. I’d imagine many owners are still democrats. Too bad they foster terrorism, listen to fear mongering news businesses, and don’t look at what is actually being done. Fraud has been common and bigger than anyone imagined. That is the target of clean up being done.