The official White House account on X sparked a viral sensation this Friday by blending politics, technology, and pop culture in a humorous post. It shared an AI-generated image of Donald Trump walking beside a futuristic, hovering car with thrusters, while Marine One flew overhead, and the phrase "Make America Great Again" appeared in the iconic Grand Theft Auto font.
The accompanying message was straightforward: "We really got flying cars before GTA 6."
This post came just a day after Elon Musk showcased the new Tesla Roadster Cyberfie at SpaceX's rocket testing facility in McGregor, Texas. During the demonstration, the vehicle performed autonomous stunts that left spectators awestruck: it ascended a nearly vertical ramp, navigated upside down, soared over a line of Tesla cars, and completed a mid-air spin dubbed the "kick flip" by Vice President of Engineering, Lars Moravy.
The White House's jest carried a double irony. On one hand, GTA 6 — developed by Rockstar Games and among the most anticipated video games in history — has faced numerous delays and is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026.
On the other hand, the Tesla Roadster isn't expected to reach consumers before 2028, and its flight capabilities — achieved through SpaceX's cold gas thruster technology — have not been approved for public road use.
In response to a Fox News journalist, Trump expressed moderate enthusiasm: "I'm very happy for Elon," he remarked, describing the car as "quite impressive, very impressive," though he added uncertainty about whether he would be seen inside one.
The joke follows shortly after Trump presented Musk with the National Medal of Science at the White House summit "Science: A New Golden Age," where he called Musk a "national treasure" and compared him to Thomas Edison.
This marked the first time Trump personally awarded these medals during either of his terms in office.
The Roadster Cyberfie's performance stats revealed during the flying car's introduction include accelerating from zero to 60 mph in just 0.81 seconds and using two 600-liter compressed air tanks released through ten nozzles.
Tesla has confirmed three models: the Performance, with a $50,000 reservation; the Thrust, with a $250,000 reservation; and the invitation-only Rocket. Musk later stated that some models could exceed 400 mph, more than half the speed of sound.
This isn't the first time the Trump administration has tapped into pop culture to amplify its message.
The White House has a history of using such tactics, featuring Trump as the superhero Green Lantern in a video that garnered over 19 million views in September and as a Mandalorian warrior for Star Wars Day in May. The administration has also employed memes of Mario and Naruto, which caused diplomatic strains with Japan.
The Friday post quickly amassed nearly 3.8 million views and over 98,000 likes, cementing the White House's digital communication strategy as one of the most active on social media.
The first Roadster prototype was unveiled in 2017 with production promised for 2020, meaning the vehicle is already facing at least an eight-year delay — nearly as many as GTA 6 itself.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tesla's Flying Car and GTA 6
When is GTA 6 expected to be released?
GTA 6 is anticipated to be released on November 19, 2026, following several delays.
What are the capabilities of the Tesla Roadster Cyberfie?
The Tesla Roadster Cyberfie can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 0.81 seconds and uses advanced aerospace technology for its flight capabilities, although these are not yet approved for public road use.
Why did the White House use pop culture references in its communication?
The White House has utilized pop culture references to make its messages more engaging and relatable, leveraging viral content to reach a broader audience.