Trump official said 'buy Tesla' on TV—did it violate ethics laws?

A Trump administration official’s televised plug for Tesla stock has sparked fresh concerns about ethical violations inside the federal government—and raised the question: Did he break the law?

During a recent TV appearance, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said, "It will never be this cheap. Buy Tesla," shortly after former President Donald Trump turned the White House lawn into a showcase for Tesla vehicles. Ethics experts say Lutnick’s comment appears to violate a longstanding law barring federal employees from using their position to promote private interests.