What's the precedent for the president's sales presence?

In his attempt to improve the livelihoods of all Americans, Donald Trump spent the morning purchasing a used Tesla from one of his allies.

With Tesla's stock falling over 50% from its peak, and protestors vandalizing both Tesla showrooms and cars, the President is trying a bold new strategy to stymie his ally's vanishing net worth. After buying the red Model S from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the man who had spent hours of campaign time insulting electric car owners was now in front of the White House praising the virtues of this specific electric car.

Using the Office of the President to shill products is not a new thing. Just a few years ago, food manufacturer Goya received an endorsement from the Oval Office, complete with the First Family taking pictures smiling with some of the companies' different offerings. The president that started this tradition: it was also Donald Trump, in 2020.

No other person holding the top Executive has used the office of the president to shill products, and now Trump has now done it at least twice. In addition to his endorsements for Goya and Tesla, Trump's predilection for Diet Cokes, McDonald's fish sandwiches, and golf carts that are able to be driven on the greens are public knowledge. This could expose a huge conflict of interest for the office of the Commander in Chief.

Are we going to see a President in the future whose time goes to the highest bidder? Will there be politicians who unironically wear a Kroger patch below their American Flag lapel pin? Is this one more step closer to becoming a nation run by businesses instead of people? Are we there already?

All this political salesmanship begs a larger question: did Elon Musk show his buddy the feature where Teslas can fart on command?