Trump backs Elon Musk on reopening California Tesla plant

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Donald Trump is supporting Elon Musk’s push to reopen his Tesla plant in California, despite the state’s coronavirus stay-at-home order remaining in place.

The president made the statement backing Mr Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, during a Twitter tirade on Tuesday morning.

“California should let Tesla & @elonmusk open the plant, NOW. It can be done Fast & Safely!” Mr Trump wrote.

On Monday Mr Musk announced that the electric car manufacturer is resuming production and that he is willing to be arrested while his employees defy Alameda County's stay-at-home order.

He said on Twitter: “I will be on the line with everyone else. If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me.”

Tesla had announced it intends to restart “limited operations” and return roughly 30 per cent of the 10,000 strong workforce to the facility in Fremont, against the guidance of county officials, who said the company had not yet met the criteria to resume business.

During a press conference on Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was not aware that the factory was reopening.

On Saturday, Mr Musk announced that he intends to file a lawsuit against Alameda County, saying that “the unelected & ignorant 'Interim Health Officer' of Alameda is acting contrary to the Governor, the President, our Constitutional freedoms & just plain common sense!”

Mr Musk has also threatened to close Tesla’s factory and headquarters in California and move to Nevada or Texas because of the row with local authorities over reopening.

“Frankly, this is the final straw,” the CEO wrote on Twitter at the weekend, seemingly in response to the news that the plant would not be allowed to reopen yet. “Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately.”

“Tesla has been informed that they do not meet those criteria and must not reopen,” Alameda County said in a statement. “We welcome Tesla’s proactive work on a reopening plan, so that once they fit the criteria to reopen, they can do so in a way that protects their employees and the community at large.”

Mr Musk is a vocal opponent of lockdown measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, calling them "fascist". The virus has so far killed more than 81,000 Americans.

California has 68,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 2,770 recorded deaths. Alameda County accounts for 2,101 cases and 71 deaths.