Protests Hit Tesla Showrooms Over Musk’s Government Cuts
Protesters opposing Elon Musk’s drastic U.S. government cuts under President Donald Trump rallied outside Tesla dealerships nationwide Saturday, targeting the fortune of the world’s richest man. The demonstrations, part of the Tesla Takedown movement, hit all 277 U.S. Tesla locations, aiming to deepen a sales slump tied to Musk’s role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he’s axed agencies and accessed sensitive data.
Crowds, ranging from dozens to hundreds, gathered in states like New Jersey, Texas, and New York, wielding signs like “Honk if you hate Elon.” The movement also spread to over 230 global Tesla sites, with smaller protests in Europe, including London, where signs compared Musk to Hitler. “We’re here to make noise and raise awareness,” said American protester.
Backed by disillusioned Tesla owners, actor John Cusack, and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas), the protests stayed mostly peaceful, though a fire in Germany destroyed seven Teslas. Musk, whose $340 billion fortune hinges on Tesla stock, dismissed sales worries in a March 20 meeting, predicting 10 million global sales by next year. Still, Tesla’s stock has erased a 70% post-election surge as backlash mounts, leaving analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities calling it a “brand crisis” for Musk to navigate.
