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In recent weeks, widespread protests have emerged across the United States and Europe, targeting Tesla dealerships and voicing strong opposition to Elon Musk’s involvement in the US government. Demonstrators, including Tesla owners and public and political figures, have called for Musk’s resignation from his government role, citing concerns over his influence on policies and financial decisions.
Elon Musk has retweeted an X post which says Joe Rogan calls out Democrats for paying people to show up to rallies and protest Tesla.
Musk has alleged that some people organizing the Tesla protest got money from ActBlue, a nonprofit that supports progressive causes and Democratic politicians.
Nationwide protests target Tesla stores with mixed reactions
The posts show protesters holding signs with messages like "Go steal data on Mars," "Americans against rich rulers," and "The rule of law is important," along with other strong statements.
There have been protests across all 277 Tesla stores in the US, and reactions have been mixed so far. While a lot of people who are marching and raising their voices have been peaceful, others have vandalized some things, like spray painting Tesla cars and damaging the charging stations that people rely on to charge electric cars.
US officials have condemned these actions as acts of terrorism, while President Donald Trump has suggested that they are part of an orchestrated effort to intimidate Musk.
Elon Musk’s leadership at DOGE sparks controversy
At the center of the controversy is Musk’s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where his cost-cutting measures and access to sensitive government data have sparked backlash. Critics argue that his policies undermine public interests, while supporters believe he is bringing necessary reforms to government spending.
Elon has been making a positive public face for Tesla and holding interviews and meetings to show that he’s got back in sync with the government. During an all-hands Tesla meeting, he dismissed the protesters’ concerns, stating,
"Stop being psycho."
Musk told Fox News host Bret Baier about his role with DOGE,
“It’s actually disadvantageous for me to be in the government, not advantageous.” He continued. “My companies are suffering because I’m in the government.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has also spoken about financial worries related to recent protests, vandalism, and its effect on sales performance.
"Do you think it helps sales if (Tesla) dealerships are gonna be fire-bombed? Of course not,” he remarked.
Despite the disruption, Tesla continues to face broader challenges beyond the protests. The company’s stock has seen significant declines, with shares dropping 45% since mid-December. During a March 21 meeting with employees, Elon Musk acknowledged the volatility of Tesla’s stock but urged confidence, advising employees to “hang on” to their shares.
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