Tesla Takedown demonstrations prompt domestic terrorism probe as Musk-linked opposition escalate

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Law enforcement agencies are bracing for large-scale protests this weekend as nearly 200 Tesla showrooms prepare for coordinated demonstrations under the “Tesla Takedown” banner—a protest movement that claims to oppose Elon Musk’s role in government policy but is now under federal investigation for violent acts against Tesla facilities and vehicles worldwide.

Despite organizers publicly denying involvement in any attacks, the FBI has confirmed an active probe into numerous incidents classified as domestic terrorism, including Molotov cocktail attacks and arson at Tesla locations, prompting authorities to deploy enhanced security measures. The FBI’s task force was activated following a wave of politically charged vandalism and threats tied to Musk’s leadership role in President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

In recent months, Tesla dealerships across the U.S. and abroad have experienced acts of sabotage, including smashed windshields, offensive graffiti, and in some cases, firebombings. Multiple Tesla charging stations were set ablaze in Massachusetts, and a suspect in Las Vegas was arrested after attempting to set fire to a Tesla showroom using Molotov cocktails.

Vickie Mueller Olvera, a Bay Area organizer with the protest movement, condemned the violence but justified the protests as necessary. “Nobody voted for this, and nobody voted for Elon,” she told The Guardian, branding Musk “an unelected super-billionaire” and “a thug.”

The protest movement’s internal contradictions have become a focal point of criticism, particularly from environmental leaders and government officials. Once lauded by the left for revolutionizing electric vehicles, Tesla is now a target of destruction by activists once supportive of its mission, who torch electric cars, releasing toxic fumes and placing first responders at risk.

While protest leaders claim they are not responsible for the violence, their language—labeling Musk as a “fascist” and Teslas as “Swastikars”—has drawn scrutiny. “The real problem is not the crazy guy that firebombs a Tesla dealership,” Musk told Fox News. “It’s the people pushing the propaganda that caused that guy to do it.” President Trump echoed that view, promising federal prosecution of any individuals responsible for violent acts during the protests.

Counter-protests under the name “Tesla Shield” are expected to occur simultaneously. “We’re organizing caravans to stand with Tesla workers and defend a Trump ally,” said Terry Beck, a New Jersey-based Trump supporter. Law enforcement officials say they are coordinating resources to prevent physical confrontations and safeguard both demonstrators and businesses.

The protests come as Musk’s wealth faces market fluctuations amid the unrest and Tesla’s public perception suffers. Still, with the FBI’s attention focused squarely on the escalating violence and political rhetoric, the “Tesla Takedown” protests have become a defining moment in the left’s uneasy relationship with its own climate legacy.

The movement’s future may hinge on whether it can reclaim a message of peaceful dissent or if it will continue to be overshadowed by acts of extremism that threaten to undermine the very principles it claims to uphold.