Hundreds of protestors flooded Tesla showrooms on Saturday, voicing outrage over CEO Elon Musk’s role in federal budget cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The movement, dubbed “Tesla Takedown,” has gained momentum in multiple cities, including Washington, D.C., and Boston, urging Tesla owners to abandon the brand and investors to divest from Tesla stock.
According to CNN, approximately 80 demonstrations erupted across the country on Saturday alone, fueled by concerns over Musk’s influence on government spending. Organizers of the movement maintain that targeting Tesla directly is the key to curbing Musk’s power.
“Sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines. Hurting Tesla is stopping Musk,” reads a bold statement on the Tesla Takedown website. “Stopping Musk will help save lives and our democracy. The stakes couldn’t be higher. No one is coming to save us—not politicians, not the media.”
Sen. Mark Kelly Joins the Movement
Adding fuel to the fire, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) announced he had parted ways with his Tesla, criticizing Musk’s leadership and political alignment.
“Every time I get in this car in the last 60 days or so, it reminds me of just how much Elon Musk and Donald Trump are doing to our country,” Kelly declared in a video posted to X. “Talking about slashing Social Security, cutting health care benefits for poor people, for seniors. It’s one bad thing after the next.”
Kelly’s public condemnation highlights growing concerns among critics who see Musk’s political influence as dangerous. The billionaire has been closely aligned with former President Donald Trump, acting as a senior adviser and advocating for the closure of agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Musk and Trump: A Controversial Alliance
The controversy surrounding Musk deepened this week when he appeared at the White House alongside Trump, showcasing Tesla vehicles on the South Lawn. Three Tesla cars were parked prominently as the former president praised Musk’s contributions to the automotive industry. The event sparked ethical concerns, with many questioning whether it blurred the lines between business interests and government policy.
“I mean, nobody else has a car company started up in the last 30 years that’s been successful, I don’t think so,” Trump told reporters.
“But because he’s finding all sorts of terrible things that have taken place against our country, we want to penalize him in an economic sense. And I just think that’s very unfair. So I just wanted to make a statement. I’m going to buy one now.”
Trump’s endorsement of Tesla comes at a time when the company is already under scrutiny, with opponents calling for widespread divestment. Meanwhile, Musk’s involvement in federal spending cuts continues to stoke controversy, making Tesla a focal point for political resistance.
The Future of Tesla Amid Public Backlash
As the Tesla Takedown movement grows, the question remains: Will the public backlash affect Tesla’s stock performance and market dominance? With calls for investors to dump shares and Tesla owners to switch brands, the pressure on Musk is intensifying. Whether this movement gains further traction or fizzles out remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—Elon Musk’s political entanglements have placed Tesla in the crosshairs of a fierce national debate.
