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The outrage is largely attributed to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s involvement with the US President Donald Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
Activists protest against Elon Musk’s Tesla in the US | Image/X
As Elon Musk takes bold steps towards cutting the federal workforce, the Tesla CEO’s carmaker facilities across the US have come under fire, with vehicles, dealerships and charging stations facing vandalism.
US media outlets have reported nearly 10 acts of vandalism at Tesla facilities, the most recent being at a Tesla dealership in Oregon, where gunshots damaged several cars and showroom windows.
The outrage is largely attributed to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s involvement with the US President Donald Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which focuses on reducing the federal workforce and cutting government spending.
On Saturday, demonstrators gathered outside Tesla dealerships, including in Decatur, Georgia, carrying signs criticising Elon Musk and DOGE, reported AP.
🚨TESLA DEALERSHIPS, CHARGING STATIONS TARGETED AMID PROTESTSTesla locations across the U.S. and Europe have been targeted in a series of incidents this week amid growing protests against Elon’s role in the Trump administration and federal budget cuts.
-Shots fired at a Tesla… pic.twitter.com/xPjCXPNYh0
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 9, 2025
Earlier this month, authorities arrested a man in Oregon, after Molotov cocktails were hurled at a Tesla dealership, according to the Salem Statesman-Journal.
Tesla Charging Stations Set On Fire
Several Tesla charging stations were reportedly set on fire in Massachusetts. Littleton police reported that multiple Superchargers were “engulfed in flames and heavy, dark smoke.”
In New York, several protesters were arrested at a Tesla showroom in Manhattan after demonstrations escalated, resulting in a shattered glass door. Activists chanted slogans: “We need clean air, not another billionaire,” demanding climate action from Elon Musk.
The NYPD has not yet disclosed the number of arrests or the charges the individuals may face.
A Boston man was recently caught on video allegedly tagging Tesla vehicles with Musk decals and sharing the footage on X. He was arrested by the Brookline police.
When questioned, the man claimed he had the right to deface others’ property under the guise of “free speech,” according to police.
Before his arrest, police addressed the incident in a Facebook post, stating, “We’d like to speak with the suspect to clarify the distinction between ‘free speech’ and vandalizing someone else’s property.”
Last week, the US Attorney’s Office in Colorado charged 42-year-old Lucy Grace Nelson, also known as Justin Thomas Nelson, after authorities discovered explosives and alarming threat messages at a Tesla dealership in Colorado.
