Nationwide protests hit Tesla over Musk’s government ties

San Francisco: Demonstrators opposing billionaire Elon Musk's purge of the U.S. government under President Donald Trump gathered outside Tesla dealerships across the United States and parts of Europe on Saturday, intensifying efforts to undermine the fortune of the world's richest man.

The protests were aimed at Tesla showrooms and service centers in response to Musk's leadership of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he has gained access to sensitive data and shut down entire agencies in his push to cut government spending. Musk’s estimated $340 billion fortune is largely tied to Tesla stock, making the company a prime target for activists who oppose his involvement in government alongside Trump.

Unlike earlier sporadic demonstrations, Saturday marked the first coordinated attempt to surround all 277 Tesla locations in the U.S. in hopes of exacerbating the company’s recent decline in sales. By early afternoon, crowds ranging from a few dozen to several hundred had gathered outside Tesla dealerships in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Minnesota, and Texas. Protesters held signs reading “Honk if you hate Elon” and “Fight the billionaire broligarchy.” Demonstrations continued throughout the day in major cities like Washington, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Seattle, as well as in towns across Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. Some sites also saw counterprotesters supporting Musk and Trump.

Outside a Tesla showroom in Dublin, California, demonstrators chanted, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Elon Musk has got to go!” while across the street, a smaller group of Trump supporters waved American flags. A much larger crowd gathered at another Tesla location in Berkeley, using drums to amplify their chants.

“We're living in a fascist state,” said Dennis Fagaly, a retired teacher from Oakland. “We need to stop this, or we'll lose our country and everything that is good about the United States.”

The protests extended beyond the U.S., with the Tesla Takedown movement rallying demonstrators in over 230 locations worldwide. While turnout in Europe was smaller, the anti-Musk sentiment remained strong. In London, around two dozen protesters gathered outside a dealership, holding signs critical of the billionaire. Passing vehicles honked in support. One protester held a sign depicting Musk alongside Adolf Hitler, referencing accusations that Musk had made a Nazi-like salute after Trump's inauguration. Another sign, held by a person in a Tyrannosaurus rex costume, read, “You thought the Nazis were extinct. Don’t buy a Swasticar.”

“We just want to get loud, make noise, and make people aware of the problems we’re facing,” said Cam Whitten, an American attending the London protest.

The Tesla Takedown movement has drawn support from disillusioned Tesla owners, celebrities like actor John Cusack, and politicians, including Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett from Dallas. “I’m going to keep screaming in the halls of Congress. I just need you all to make sure you keep screaming in the streets,” Crockett said in an organizing call earlier this month. Another Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, joined the protests in Seattle, which she represents in Congress.

While most demonstrations remained peaceful, some acts of vandalism have accompanied the Musk backlash. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has condemned incidents such as Tesla vehicles being set on fire, labeling them as domestic terrorism. Musk, in a March 20 company meeting, expressed disbelief over the attacks, calling on vandals to “stop acting psycho.”

Despite efforts to keep the protests nonviolent, police in Germany were investigating a fire that destroyed seven Teslas early Saturday morning. It was unclear whether the blaze was linked to the demonstrations. In Massachusetts, local police reported that a black pickup truck struck two protesters outside a Tesla service center in Watertown. Authorities quickly identified the suspect and confirmed that no serious injuries occurred.

Meanwhile, a growing number of Tesla owners who purchased vehicles before Musk took control of DOGE are distancing themselves from the company, with some attempting to sell or trade their cars and others affixing bumper stickers to express their discontent.

Despite the backlash and declining sales, Musk remains optimistic about Tesla’s future. In the March company meeting, he reassured employees that the Model Y would remain “the best-selling car on Earth again this year” and predicted Tesla would surpass 10 million worldwide sales by next year, up from about 7 million currently.

“There are times when there are rocky moments, where there is stormy weather,” Musk told Tesla workers. “But what I am here to tell you is that the future is incredibly bright and exciting.”

Musk’s close alignment with Trump initially boosted Tesla’s stock by 70% between the November election and Trump’s January 20 inauguration, adding $560 billion in shareholder value. However, nearly all those gains have since disappeared amid concerns over public backlash, declining sales in the U.S., Europe, and China, and Musk’s focus on DOGE instead of Tesla operations.

Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives noted in a recent report that Musk is facing a “moment of truth” as he navigates Tesla’s ongoing brand crisis. “This continues to be a moment of truth for Musk to navigate this brand tornado crisis moment and get onto the other side of this dark chapter for Tesla,” Ives wrote.

With PTI inputs