Tesla in Crisis, President Trump Steps In to Save Elon Musk
Protesters opposing Elon Musk’s ties to President Trump’s administration gathered outside Tesla dealerships across the U.S. and several European cities on April 5, aiming to reduce the wealth of the world’s richest man, according to AP News.
The protests have spread beyond major cities like Washington, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Seattle to areas in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. Smaller groups have also appeared at other locations.
At a Tesla store in Dublin, California, about 60 km east of San Francisco, dozens of demonstrators chanted, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, billionaire Elon Musk has got to go!” Meanwhile, a small group of Trump supporters stood across the street waving American flags.
Near Berkeley, a larger crowd gathered outside another store, chanting and beating drums. Dennis Fagaly, a retired high school teacher from Oakland, stated: “We are living in a fascist state, and we need to end this or we will lose the country and everything good about America.”
The “Tesla Takedown” movement has plans to hold protests at over 230 locations worldwide. While European participation was smaller, opposition to Musk remained strong.
In London, around 20 people held signs criticizing Musk outside a Tesla dealership, with passing cars honking in support. Some signs depicted Musk alongside images of Adolf Hitler giving a Nazi salute, and one protester dressed as a T-Rex held a sign featuring Musk in a fascist pose.
Cam Whitten, an American protester in London, shared: “We just want to raise awareness, to make people conscious of the issues we’re facing.”
The “Tesla Takedown” campaign is organized by people disillusioned with Musk, including Tesla owners, celebrities such as actor John Cusack, and at least one U.S. lawmaker—Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett from Dallas. “I will continue speaking out in Congress,” Crockett said, “but I also need you all to keep speaking out in the streets.”
Another lawmaker, Representative Pramila Jayapal, joined the protests in Seattle, the city she represents.
Musk has faced intense backlash, including incidents of vandalism. Some have burned Tesla vehicles or committed other destructive acts. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned these actions as domestic terrorism. During a company meeting in late March, Musk expressed shock at the attacks and urged the perpetrators to stop.
Despite declining sales, Musk remains optimistic about Tesla’s future. In the same March meeting, he stated that the Model Y would continue to be “the best-selling car on Earth this year” and predicted Tesla would sell over 10 million vehicles worldwide by next year.
“There are tough times, stormy skies,” Musk said, “but what I want to say is—the future is incredibly bright and exciting.”
Protesters opposing President Trump gathered just miles away from the Trump National Golf Club.
After President Trump’s election victory last November, investors initially viewed Musk’s alliance with Trump as a positive signal for Tesla, sending Tesla’s stock soaring 70% from the election through the inauguration. However, optimism has since faded amid backlash and slowing sales in the U.S., Europe, and China.
Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, noted: “This remains a challenging time for Musk to weather the brand crisis and lead Tesla through this difficult period.”
In a broader development, angry U.S. citizens critical of President Trump’s leadership marched in cities nationwide during what has become the largest protest yet for an opposition movement seeking to regain momentum after a rocky start to Trump’s term.
The “Hands Off!” protests were organized at more than 1,200 locations across all 50 states by over 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LGBTQ+ advocates, veterans, and voting rights activists. Demonstrations were peaceful, with no immediate reports of arrests.
