More than 200 coordinated protests erupted across the US on Saturday as part of a global movement opposing Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration and his leadership of Tesla Inc.
Divesting from Tesla
Branded the #TeslaTakedown, the campaign has urged supporters to divest from Tesla and reject Musk’s influence over federal government policy through his leadership of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Demonstrations were held at Tesla locations in major cities including Washington DC, Chicago, Boston and Rockville, Maryland, with organisers reporting thousands of participants nationwide.
The protesters voiced strong opposition to sweeping budget cuts and federal workforce reductions spearheaded by DOGE under Musk’s direction.
There were also concerns raised about the impact on public health, scientific research and foreign aid, following attempts by DOGE to dismantle agencies such as the United States Institute of Peace and cut staffing at the Internal Revenue Service by 20%.
While the demonstrations were overwhelmingly peaceful, they reveal heightened tensions as the Trump administration continues to roll out policies of questionable legality and constitutionality.
FBI taskforce for Tesla alone
And there have been some isolated violent incidents targeting Tesla facilities – in Las Vegas, a man was arrested last week after allegedly firebombing a Tesla repair site and vandalising vehicles with anti-Musk graffiti.
This was just the excuse the administration needed to launch a dedicated FBI task force to investigate what it described as a pattern of “domestic terrorism” linked to anti-Tesla attacks across at least nine US states.
Tesla Takedown organisers have repeatedly reiterated that the movement rejects violence, promoting instead peaceful protest and economic pressure – even as Trump wrongly tweeted that boycott itself was ‘illegal’.
Protesters at various locations expressed solidarity with affected government workers and concern over long-term consequences of DOGE-driven policies.
Many cited personal stories — from job losses to reduced medical research funding — as the reason for their participation.
Meanwhile, Tesla shares have plummeted 45% since December 2024, closing at US$263.55 on Friday.
In a recent employee meeting broadcast on social media platform X, which Musk owns, the billionaire urged staff to “hang on to your stock” and claimed his government role is harming, not helping, his businesses.
With further protests anticipated in coming months, the pressure on both Musk and Tesla is likely to intensify as tensions escalate between the Trump administration and the general public.