Trump criticized EV drivers in Las Vegas, calling battery-range concerns a “disease” during his speech.
President Donald Trump used a speech at the Red Rock Casino Resort in Las Vegas to take another shot at electric vehicles, this time directing his criticism at the people who drive them.
While discussing the administration’s economic policies with supporters, Trump described the concern some EV owners have about running low on battery during a long trip as a mental condition.
"You're driving along in an electric car, they have a disease, you know, it's a disease," Trump said.
He then focused on drivers who watch their battery level even when they still have plenty of charge remaining. Trump described motorists worrying about finding a charger with the battery at 75 percent and added, "These people are crazy".
Trump’s comments come after several policy changes during his second term that have affected the U.S. electric vehicle market. His administration eliminated the $7,500 federal tax credit for EV purchases, eased EPA tailpipe emissions requirements and froze federal funding intended to expand high-speed charging infrastructure across the country.
The changes have come as growth in U.S. EV sales has slowed. Second-quarter figures show battery-electric vehicles accounting for about 6 percent of the market, compared with roughly 7 percent during the same period a year earlier. At the same time, demand for hybrids has increased significantly.
Range anxiety remains an issue for some shoppers considering an EV, particularly those who regularly travel through areas where charging stations are limited. For drivers making longer trips, keeping track of available range and planning charging stops has become a normal part of EV ownership.
Modern EVs offer trip-planning systems that can account for charging stops, while the charging network in the U.S. continues to expand. Still, access to convenient charging can vary considerably depending on where a driver lives and how far they typically travel.
Trump also used the Las Vegas speech to make broader claims about America's energy resources. He said the United States controls "60 percent of the world's oil and gas, including Venezuela," and later claimed that the country has "a thousand years of gasoline."
The comments regarding Venezuela came despite the country remaining a sovereign nation following the early 2026 U.S. military intervention that removed Nicolas Maduro.
Trump’s remarks also come as gasoline prices remain a major consideration for American drivers. AAA reports the national average price for regular gasoline at $4.06 per gallon.
Fuel costs remain an important factor as automakers decide how much of their future production should be devoted to electric vehicles, hybrids and vehicles powered by internal-combustion engines.
For EV buyers, the debate over range remains tied to a practical question: how easily a vehicle can be charged during everyday driving and longer trips. For Trump, however, the issue has become another target in his broader criticism of electric vehicles.