Elon Musk arrived at a San Francisco courthouse using a decoy Tesla to divert photographers' attention during his testimony in a Twitter shareholder lawsuit. The maneuver allowed him to enter the building quickly while media focused on the vehicle. The trial concerns allegations that Musk violated securities laws before acquiring Twitter in 2022.
On March 4, 2026, Elon Musk testified at the San Francisco federal courthouse in a lawsuit filed by former Twitter shareholders. The plaintiffs allege that Musk violated securities laws in 2022 by driving down the company's share price through his communications before purchasing it and renaming it X. Musk has stated that he complied with the law regarding his statements about the social media platform.
Photographers stationed outside the courthouse anticipated Musk's arrival. According to David Morris, a Bloomberg News photographer, a Tesla pulled up to the curb, and security guards surrounded it, drawing the media's focus. "100% a decoy. 100%," Morris told Business Insider. "They had us. It was done very well, actually."
While photographers gathered around the Tesla, an SUV positioned nearby moved directly in front of the courthouse entrance. Musk and his security team exited the SUV and rushed up the steps into the building in about three seconds, Morris said. The Tesla, identified as a Model S, then drove away without anyone else emerging from it.
Josh Edelson, a freelance photographer for Getty Images, noted that security stood in front of Musk to obstruct clear shots, and Musk kept his head turned to the side, resulting in mostly profile images. The scene was captured in a video posted on X by NBC journalist Scott Budman, showing the decoy Tesla and guards.
Attorneys for Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Photographers planned to cover Musk's departure, with Bloomberg assigning two to monitor the exits.
