Protesters Gather Outside Tesla Showrooms Against Elon Musk's Government Purge Initiative

Protests against Elon Musk's involvement in the US government under President Donald Trump have intensified, with demonstrators gathering outside Tesla dealerships across the United States. The protests aim to challenge Musk's role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he has been closing agencies and accessing sensitive data to cut government spending.

By early afternoon, protesters had gathered at Tesla locations in several states, including New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Texas. The movement, known as Tesla Takedown, also sought to mobilise protests at over 230 Tesla sites globally. Although European turnouts were smaller, the anti-Musk sentiment was evident.

Global Protests Against Musk

In London, around two dozen protesters displayed signs criticising Musk outside a Tesla dealership. Passing vehicles honked in support. One sign depicted Musk alongside Adolf Hitler, referencing accusations against Musk of making a Nazi salute after Trump's inauguration. Another sign read, "You thought the Nazis were extinct. Don't buy a Swasticar."

The Tesla Takedown initiative was organised by disillusioned Tesla owners, celebrities like actor John Cusack, and Democratic Party lawmaker Rep. Jasmine Crockett from Dallas. "I'm going to keep screaming in the halls of Congress," Crockett stated during an organising call earlier this month.

Calls for Peaceful Protests

Despite calls for peaceful protests, some individuals opposed to Musk have resorted to vandalism, including setting Tesla vehicles on fire. US Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned these acts as domestic terrorism. Police are investigating a fire that destroyed seven Tesla cars in Germany on Saturday morning.

Musk expressed confusion over these attacks during a company meeting on March 20. "The vandals should stop acting psycho," he said. Meanwhile, some Tesla owners are distancing themselves from Musk by selling or trading their cars or using bumper stickers to express their opposition.

Musk's Response and Future Outlook

Musk remains unfazed by declining sales of new Teslas. In his March 20 address to employees, he assured them that the Model Y would continue to be "the best-selling car on Earth again this year." He predicted that Tesla would sell over 10 million cars worldwide by next year, up from about 7 million currently.

After Trump's election last November, investors initially viewed Musk's alliance with Trump positively for Tesla's self-driving car ambitions. This optimism boosted Tesla's stock by 70% between Trump's election and inauguration, adding USD 560 billion in shareholder wealth. However, these gains have since vanished due to concerns about the backlash against Tesla and Musk's focus on DOGE.

"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," Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives noted in a research report before Saturday's protests.