Tesla’s Humanoid Robots Turn Heads in D.C.—Are Factory Floors the Next Frontier?

In a rare bipartisan moment on Capitol Hill, it wasn’t the lawmakers but two humanoid robots from Tesla that stole the spotlight. At a U.S. manufacturing showcase in Washington, D.C., Tesla’s Optimus robots captivated attendees, posing for photos and sparking serious conversations about the future of American industry.

Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Select Committee on China, called the machines “amazing technology,” pointing out that the same systems powering Tesla vehicles now appear in these humanoid forms. The robots didn’t just demonstrate advanced movement—they symbolized a major inflection point for automation in the workforce.