May 16, 2025 – Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) has once again captured the spotlight, with its stock price soaring to $347.70, marking a staggering 48.35% increase over the past month. The milestone was celebrated by Tesla CEO Elon Musk in a now-viral X post at 19:03 UTC, where he shared a screenshot of the stock chart with a single word: “kek.” The post, viewed by millions, not only highlighted Tesla’s financial rebound but also reignited a feud with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who had previously mocked the company’s stock performance. The moment underscores the intersection of Tesla’s market success, Musk’s political influence, and the cultural battles playing out on social media.
Tesla’s Stock Surge: A Remarkable Turnaround
Tesla’s stock chart, as shared by Musk, tells a story of resilience. The one-month view shows a steady climb from a low of $235 on April 16 to the current $347.70, with a peak of $351.62 in the past 52 weeks. The stock’s market cap now sits at $1.12 trillion, with a trading volume of 72.50 million shares on the day of the post. This surge follows a volatile period for Tesla, which saw its stock hit an all-time high of $424.77 in mid-December 2024—its first record close in three years—before dipping to $230 in March 2025, as reported by Investopedia and AP News.
The recent rally can be attributed to several factors. First, Tesla has benefited from renewed investor confidence following Donald Trump’s reelection in November 2024. Musk’s close ties to the President-elect, including a reported $270 million contribution to Trump’s campaign, have fueled speculation that Tesla could gain favorable regulatory and policy support. A PBS News report from February 2025 noted Musk’s unprecedented role in the Trump administration, where he has been tasked with rooting out inefficiencies in the federal government—a move that has positioned him as a central figure in conservative circles.
Second, analyst upgrades have bolstered Tesla’s momentum. In late 2024, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley raised their price targets for Tesla, with Morgan Stanley’s Adam Jonas setting a $400 target and naming Tesla his “Top Pick.” These upgrades, combined with Trump’s public endorsement of Tesla—he purchased a Cybercab in March 2025 to counter boycotts—have helped drive the stock’s recovery.
The “Kek” Heard ‘Round the Internet: Musk Mocks Tim Walz
Musk’s use of “kek,” a term derived from internet culture meaning laughter (often with a sarcastic or mocking tone), was a direct jab at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. In March 2025, Walz, a Democrat, made headlines when he publicly mocked Tesla’s stock decline during a town hall in Rochester, Minnesota. At the time, Tesla’s stock had fallen 41.4% year-to-date, and Walz quipped, “This guy [Musk] bugs me in a way that’s probably unhealthy,” before cheering the stock’s tumble. He later backtracked, calling his comments a joke and lamenting that “these people have no sense of humor,” according to Fox News.
kek pic.twitter.com/dp7HuvpjdU
— Kekius Maximus (@elonmusk) May 16, 2025
Walz’s remarks, however, did not age well. Tesla’s stock rebounded dramatically, and Musk’s X post—along with the flood of replies—turned the governor into a punching bag. Users like @greg16676935420 shared a cartoon depicting a donkey (symbolizing Democrats) lamenting, “Trump is bankrupting America!” while later cheering, “Trump is enriching his friends!”—a clear dig at Walz’s flip-flopping narrative. Others, including
@WallStreetApes and @IfindRetards, posted images of the stock price written in shells on a beach, with captions like “Tim Walz’s tampon just fell out of his a$$,” referencing Walz’s past advocacy for menstrual products in schools, which had already made him a target of conservative mockery.
The thread also saw users like @battleangelviv and @Brick_Suit referencing Tesla’s satirical “Short Shorts,” a product Musk released in 2020 to mock short-sellers after a previous stock surge. The shorts, emblazoned with Tesla’s logo, became a symbol of Musk’s defiance—and their reemergence in the replies highlighted the cyclical nature of Tesla’s battles with critics.
Political Influence Meets Market Dynamics
Musk’s post and the ensuing online reaction are more than just a victory lap for Tesla—they reflect the broader interplay between politics, business, and culture in 2025. Musk’s influence in the Trump administration has been a double-edged sword. On one hand, his role has given Tesla a strategic advantage, with Trump publicly praising Musk as a “genius” and even purchasing a Tesla Cybercab to counter progressive boycotts, as reported by AP News in March 2025. On the other hand, Musk’s political involvement has drawn scrutiny. PBS News described his efforts to “delete entire agencies” from the federal government as chaotic, noting that his infiltration of various departments has “set off alarm bells.”
For Tesla employees, the stock’s volatility has been a rollercoaster. A Glassdoor report highlighted Tesla’s employee stock options as a key benefit, offering a 15% discount on the stock price—a boon for young professionals when the stock is rising, but a risk during downturns like the one in March 2025. The recent surge has likely restored confidence among Tesla’s workforce, many of whom are based at facilities like Giga Texas, which Musk has actively promoted on X.
What’s Next for Tesla and Musk?
Tesla’s stock surge to $347.70 on May 16, 2025, is a testament to the company’s resilience and Musk’s ability to navigate both market and political challenges. However, the road ahead remains uncertain. The stock’s P/E ratio of 198.73 suggests it is trading at a premium, and its 52-week range—from $148 to $479—underscores its volatility. Investors will be watching closely to see if Tesla can sustain its momentum, particularly as Musk’s political role continues to shape perceptions of the company.
For now, Musk’s “kek” serves as a reminder of his knack for turning adversity into triumph—and his willingness to mock detractors like Tim Walz along the way. As one X user, @HSajwanization, put it: “Delete your account Tim @Tim_Walz.” Whether Walz will respond remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Tesla, and Musk, are back on top—for now.
