Unlock Editor’s Digest Lock for Free
FT editor Roula Khalaf will select your favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Protesters gathered outside Tesla showrooms across the United States on Saturday to oppose the dramatic cuts President Donald Trump’s billionaire adviser Elon Musk is imposing on the federal government.
Organizers cited 37 protests nationwide as part of an effort coordinated through the social media hashtags #Teslatakedown and #Teslatakover.
Musk’s automotive company has emerged as a target for US and Europe’s political rage, in response to the oversized billionaires impact in the White House.
Through the so-called government efficiency (DOGE), Musk has adjusted the firing of tens of thousands of civil servants and has earned sensitive US Treasury payments. He also expressed his support for the German far right and called on the central left government of Sir Kiel Starmer to abandon him.
What began with Tesla owners hitting bumper stickers on their cars grew into activists projecting Musk’s image by saying, “I bought this before Elon went crazy.”
Protesters will meet at the Tesla showroom in New York on Saturday. ©Bloomberg
The donkey-led British campaign group worked with the German political beauty centre in January to project images that are part of Musk’s recent lengthy montage of political statements. The group said Tesla’s chief executive was produced in response to the support of the German far-right party, AFD.
Local news outlets have attempted to arson and arson at Tesla showrooms in Oregon and Colorado. Earlier this month, Tesla showrooms in the Hague were tainted with graffiti containing swastika and anti-fascist slogans.
Dutch police confirmed with FT that they were in contact with Tesla and that the investigation was ongoing, but no arrests had been made.
Tesla stocks, which rose after the presidential election, fell 6% to $328.50 on Tuesday. It rebounded to close the week at $355.84, but it still fell 12% since the beginning of the year.
“The street worries are that Musk is dedicating so much time for Doji to take his time at Tesla,” said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives.
“In addition, the behavior related to masked dogs and a stronger alliance with Trump could clearly reveal that some consumers are alienating them to separate themselves from the Tesla brand.”
Recommended
Around 50-100 protesters were revealed in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, with signs saying, “We’ve rejected Musk” and “If Tesla survives, your country will die.”
Edward Niedermeyer, author of Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors, was one of them. Musk’s power doesn’t derive from elections for public office, so boycotting and selling from Tesla is the only tool he can use to curb his agenda.
He argued that Tesla is overrated and that its central business of building and selling cars is getting worse. The substantial losses could force investors to sell, causing a decline in stock prices and force them to sell a portion of the stock to meet a margin call.
“All Tesla sales you prevent will serve Tesla and all the dollars you don’t charge on a supercharger will further degrade your business,” Niedermeyer said.
“It’s not easy, it’s not guaranteed, but we have the opportunity to wipe out the vast amount of Elon Musk’s wealth.”
In Chicago, protesters raised the flag saying, “Stop buying Nazi cars.”
City resident Lisa Pereira said she came to the demonstration because “you have to do something.” She said she was interrupted by diversity, equity, inclusion initiatives, its active immigration enforcement, and the administration’s attempts to crush power made by Musk.
“It’s all a little off the rails,” she said. “So I decided I had to show up. I had to be in the cahots with my soul.”
Chris White said he attended Saturday because he feared “we are alive through a fascist coup.”
“My kids are trans,” he said. “I’m told they don’t exist. I don’t know if their health care exists.”
One man cried out of the truck, but “Eron is my hero!” Most passersby in a massive democratic city expressed support.
“I would rather buy Libian.”
Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
