San Francisco (AP) — On Saturday, protesters rallied against billionaire Elon Musk in response to his controversial actions regarding the U.S. government under President Donald Trump. Demonstrations took place outside Tesla dealerships across the United States and in several European cities, highlighting growing opposition to Musk's influence as the head of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The protests aimed to disrupt Musk's significant wealth, which is primarily tied to his electric vehicle company, Tesla, as he continues to work closely with Trump.
The Saturday protests marked a significant escalation in the movement targeting Tesla dealerships and vehicles, with demonstrators attempting to surround all 277 of the automaker’s showrooms and service centers nationwide. The goal was to deepen a recent decline in Tesla’s sales. By early afternoon, crowds of protesters, ranging from a few dozen to several hundred, gathered at Tesla locations in states including New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Minnesota, and the company’s home state of Texas.
Social media was flooded with images of protesters holding signs such as “Honk if you hate Elon” and “Fight the billionaire broligraphy,” as they expressed their discontent. As the day progressed, protests spread to major cities like Washington, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Seattle, as well as smaller towns in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. Some locations also saw counterprotests, with supporters of Trump waving American flags.
“Hey, hey, ho, ho, Elon Musk has got to go!” chanted demonstrators outside a showroom in Dublin, California, about 35 miles east of San Francisco. Meanwhile, a larger crowd circled another showroom in nearby Berkeley, voicing their concerns with drumbeats accompanying their slogans. “We’re living in a fascist state,” stated Dennis Fagaly, a retired high school teacher from nearby Oakland. He urged the need to act against perceived threats to democratic values.
The Tesla Takedown movement has gained traction beyond the U.S., with organizers attempting to rally protests at over 230 locations worldwide. In Europe, although turnout was smaller, similar sentiments were echoed. In London, about two dozen protesters criticized Musk outside a dealership, attracting supportive honks from passing vehicles. One protest sign controversially depicted Musk alongside an image of Adolf Hitler, drawing parallels to accusations against Musk regarding his gestures since Trump’s inauguration.
Cam Whitten, an American present at the London protest, emphasized the need to raise awareness of the issues at hand, stating, “We just want to get loud, make noise, make people aware of the problems that we’re facing.” The Tesla Takedown movement was organized by a coalition of disillusioned Tesla owners, celebrities like actor John Cusack, and Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett from Dallas. Crockett urged participants to continue their activism both in the streets and in Congress.
While many protests remained peaceful, there have been instances of vandalism linked to rising anti-Musk sentiment. Some individuals have set Tesla vehicles on fire, leading to condemnation from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who called such acts domestic terrorism. In a recent company meeting, Musk expressed confusion over these violent actions, urging the perpetrators to “stop acting psycho.”
Local law enforcement is investigating a fire that destroyed seven Teslas in northwestern Germany, although it remains unclear if the incident was connected to the protests. In Watertown, Massachusetts, police reported that a black pickup truck struck two individuals at a protest outside a Tesla service center, although there were no serious injuries.
Despite the backlash, Musk maintains a positive outlook on Tesla's future. Many consumers who purchased vehicles before Musk's leadership at DOGE are contemplating selling or trading them in, while some have added bumper stickers to their cars to distance themselves from him. In a March meeting, Musk reassured employees that the company’s Model Y would continue to be the best-selling car in the world this year, predicting that Tesla would surpass 10 million cars sold globally by next year.
“There are times when there are rocky moments, where there is stormy weather, but what I am here to tell you is that the future is incredibly bright and exciting,” Musk stated confidently. Following Trump’s election, initial investor reactions were optimistic about Musk’s alignment with the president, boosting Tesla’s stock significantly. However, concerns over backlash and declining sales in key markets have since dampened that enthusiasm.
As Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives noted, this represents a pivotal moment for Musk as he navigates through this crisis, which many are calling a brand tornado, in hopes of emerging on the other side of this tumultuous chapter for Tesla.
