Mixed Media Coverage on Trump’s EV Comments at Recent Campaign Event

Former President Donald Trump made remarks about electric vehicles at a campaign event in Iowa over the weekend, spurring mixed media coverage across the spectrum.

The Details: Trump said if Biden’s EV plan, which received $1.7 billion earlier this year via his 2021 infrastructure plan, were to stand, “gas-powered cars will be gone.” He also said electric boats have batteries so heavy they will sink and that electric cars can only drive for 30 minutes before needing to be recharged.

For Context: The Biden Administration has been ambitious in its efforts to move America towards EVs. At the event, Trump made a campaign promise to encourage the use of gas-powered vehicles, and undo Biden’s “job-killing electric vehicle mandate on day one.” Iowa produces 4.1 billion gallons of ethanol annually, which is found in 98% of U.S. gasoline, according to the Department of Energy.

How The Media Covered It: The Guardian (Lean Left bias) and other outlets on the left, including The Independent (Lean Left bias), and The Daily Dot (Lean Left bias), framed coverage through a comment Trump made during the event, saying he would prefer to be electrocuted than eaten by a shark. They also mentioned Trump’s comments about sharks to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Newsweek Fact Check (Center bias) examined Trump’s claims about vehicles’ batteries, rating them both as false. Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) framed coverage through Trump’s promise to undo Biden’s EV policies and did not mention his electrocution or battery-related comments.