Tensions around Tesla and Elon Musk exploded nationwide on Saturday, March 29, 2025, as demonstrators launched a coordinated protest campaign called “Tesla Takedown,” aimed at damaging the company’s brand and stock over Musk’s growing influence in President Donald Trump’s administration. While most of the nearly 200 protests across the U.S. were peaceful, some turned violent—featuring firebombs, gunfire, arson, and vandalism—as anger mounts over Musk’s controversial leadership of a powerful government task force.
The unrest stems from Musk’s January appointment to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-created agency that has already eliminated over 100,000 federal jobs and shut down several government departments. Critics say Musk has too much unchecked power for an unelected figure.
“He’s wrecking our country,” said Valerie Costa, an organizer in Seattle.
“No one voted for Elon, and now he’s firing people and gutting public services.”
Tesla Takedown organizers, operating in the U.S. and parts of Europe, are calling for a boycott of Tesla vehicles, stock, and products, with the ultimate goal of pressuring Musk through financial fallout. In Manhattan, about 350 demonstrators shut down a Tesla showroom for hours, holding signs reading “No Swasticars” and “Deport Elon.” Six protesters were arrested for refusing to leave. In Rockville, Maryland, crowds chanted “Elon’s got to go.” In Portland, Oregon, activist Carolanne Fry led a noisy march, saying, “We want Tesla toxic—he’ll feel it in his pocket.”
The campaign is already having an impact. Tesla’s stock is down 40% since its December peak, closing at $248.71 on Friday—down from $488.54. 2024 marked Tesla’s first-ever year of declining global sales.
Not all protests have stayed peaceful. Since January, more than 80 Tesla locations—including showrooms, Superchargers, and individual vehicles—have been targeted.
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In Loveland, Colorado, Lucy Grace Nelson was charged with arson after throwing Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership and tagging it with “Nazi.”
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In Portland, seven shots were fired into a Tesla showroom earlier this month, damaging cars and windows.
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In Boston, seven charging stations were burned on March 4.
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In Austin, police discovered a firebomb cache near a Tesla service center on March 24.
The FBI says these incidents appear to be lone-wolf attacks, not organized terrorism, but Attorney General Pam Bondi called them “domestic terrorism” and vowed harsh sentences.
“We’ll lock you up,” she warned last week.
Musk responded defiantly on X, his social media platform, thanking supporters and brushing off the turmoil by posting about happy Cybertruck owners. He also blamed—without evidence—Democratic megadonors like Karla Jurvetson and George Soros for “funding the chaos.” The FBI, however, found no link to outside funding. President Trump stood by Musk, showing off a red Tesla at a White House event this month, promising to “crack down on radical left sabotage” and saying he might buy one himself.
Meanwhile, ordinary Tesla owners say they’re facing backlash. Karen Rabwin, from Burbank, sold her Tesla and bought a Cadillac.
“It became an embarrassment,” she said.
In Washington, Rainer Eckert said he finds “Nazi car” notes on his vehicle multiple times a day. Trade-ins for Teslas have tripled year-over-year, and global sales are plummeting—down 50% in Europe and 29% in China.
“People don’t want the hassle,” said analyst Gordon Johnson.
“Tesla isn’t just a car anymore—it’s a political statement.”
Saturday’s protests were some of the largest to date, with organizers aiming for 500 global demonstrations. Whether future actions will remain peaceful—or escalate—is unclear. What is clear: Elon Musk, once seen as a tech visionary, is now a polarizing political force. And with his influence in the White House growing, so is the resistance.