Key takeaways
- White House joins viral Tesla Roadster and GTA 6 meme
- Elon Musk demonstrates Roadster with SpaceX-inspired thrusters
- GTA 6 launches in November, Roadster production targets 2028
The White House has joined the internet's running joke about Grand Theft Auto VI, declaring that Elon Musk's flying Tesla Roadster arrived before the long-awaited video game.
In an October 16 post on X, the official White House account wrote, "We really got flying cars before GTA 6," alongside an image featuring President Donald Trump, a futuristic vehicle and a helicopter.
The post followed Tesla's dramatic unveiling of its next-generation Roadster, which demonstrated brief airborne maneuvers using thruster technology developed with SpaceX.
However, the joke contains an interesting twist. While the Roadster prototype has already taken to the air, GTA 6 is scheduled for release next month, whereas Tesla does not expect to begin Roadster production until 2028.
White House Joins GTA 6 Meme After Tesla Roadster Reveal
The White House's post tapped into a popular social media meme about extraordinary real-world developments happening before Rockstar Games releases GTA 6.
The joke has circulated for years as fans waited for the next installment of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, which was officially announced in December 2023.
Tesla's October 15 demonstration gave the meme an unusually fitting subject.
During an event at SpaceX's Texas facility, Musk unveiled a redesigned Roadster capable of performing dramatic jumps, mid-air turns and other maneuvers using specialized propulsion systems.
The company demonstrated a prototype accelerating from zero to 60 mph in less than one second, although the performance claims have not been independently verified.
Tesla also showcased a suction-based system intended to allow the vehicle to remain attached to surfaces under unusual driving conditions.
The unveiling drew widespread attention, although Tesla shares declined after the presentation.
Investors remained focused on the company's upcoming financial results rather than the limited commercial potential of the supercar, as highlighted in the earlier Roadster reveal.
GTA 6 Could Launch Before Customers Receive a Flying Roadster
According to Rockstar Games, GTA 6 is scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The release will introduce players to a modernized Vice City and the fictional state of Leonida, with protagonists Jason and Lucia at the center of the story.
The game has experienced a lengthy development cycle and several changes to its expected launch window.
Rockstar has also faced challenges involving unauthorized gameplay footage, including a recent GTA 6 leak that coincided with volatility in Take-Two Interactive shares.
Tesla's Roadster has its own history of delays.
The second-generation model was first unveiled in 2017 with an original production target of 2020. Its latest iteration now targets manufacturing in 2028, approximately eight years after that initial deadline.
[GRAPHIC — PLACE HERE: "The Race to Launch: GTA 6 vs. Tesla Roadster"]
Create a timeline comparing Tesla's 2017 Roadster announcement, original 2020 production goal, October 2026 flying demonstration and 2028 production target with GTA 6's December 2023 announcement and November 2026 planned release.
Despite its airborne stunts, the Roadster has not demonstrated sustained, practical flight comparable to an aircraft. The prototype is also not evidence of a commercially approved flying car.
Musk has acknowledged that the Roadster is unlikely to contribute significantly to Tesla's financial performance. Instead, it serves as a showcase of engineering capabilities while the company expands into robotics and autonomous transportation.
That transition has already made Tesla's Cybercab strategy an important focus for investors.
For now, the White House's GTA 6 joke highlights the contrast between technological spectacle and commercial reality.
Elon Musk may have demonstrated a Roadster capable of jumping into the air before GTA 6 arrived, but Rockstar currently appears positioned to deliver its long-awaited product to customers first.
