Tesla Under Siege! Wave of Attacks Hits as Elon Musk Jumps Into Politics
As Elon Musk pushes to slash the federal workforce and deepens his influence in U.S. politics, his Tesla facilities have become the target of violent attacks.
At least 10 vandalism incidents have struck Tesla vehicles, dealerships, and charging stations in recent weeks, highlighting the growing backlash against Musk’s political involvement.
On Jan. 29, a 40-year-old woman, Lucy Grace Nelson, threw a Molotov cocktail at a Cybertruck in a Loveland, Colorado, dealership, police said. She allegedly returned multiple times to cause further destruction—hurling more Molotovs, attempting to set the building on fire, and spray-painting “Nazi cars” on the property. Nelson was arrested last week. Musk has faced criticism for allegedly supporting antisemitic rhetoric.
Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, more than six Tesla charging stations near Boston were deliberately set on fire, police reported Monday.
On the West Coast, an unknown assailant fired at least seven gunshots at a Tesla dealership in Tigard, Oregon, on Thursday, shattering windows and damaging three vehicles. No injuries were reported.
Authorities have not found a direct link between these attacks. Loveland Police Chief Tim Doran stated that such repeated violence against a single business was unprecedented in the area.
“This is absolutely not the way to make a statement,” Doran said. “Putting people’s lives at risk is never the way to do this.”
Tesla has yet to comment on the incidents. Responding to a video of Tesla vandalism in Maryland, Musk stated: “Damaging the property of others, aka vandalism, is not free speech!”
Musk’s Government Role Sparks Tesla Attacks, Sales Slump
In January, President Donald Trump appointed Elon Musk to lead the newly renamed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—formerly the U.S. Digital Service. Under Musk’s leadership, DOGE has aggressively cut government jobs and programs, sparking outrage at GOP town halls as laid-off civil servants confront lawmakers.
Musk’s designation as a “special government employee” has drawn scrutiny, as it exempts him from standard vetting processes. Critics warn of conflicts of interest, given Musk’s control over Tesla, SpaceX, X, Neuralink, and AI startup xAI.
The turmoil isn’t just political—it’s hitting Musk’s businesses hard. Tesla’s sales have plummeted, with new vehicle registrations in Europe down 45% year-over-year in January and declines also seen in China. Since mid-December, Musk’s net worth has tumbled over $100 billion, fueled by a Tesla stock sell-off. As of Saturday, Tesla shares have dropped more than 30% in 2024 alone.
Columbia Business School professor Michael Morris predicts Musk may be forced to step down from DOGE if backlash continues. “It would be a tragedy if Musk’s success at Tesla and SpaceX were derailed by cultural blowback against his amateurish government reforms,” Morris said.
Meanwhile, Tesla facilities remain under siege. On Friday, the same Colorado dealership previously attacked was set on fire again. Police believe the arson was committed by a copycat inspired by earlier incidents. On Saturday, in New York City, police arrested nine protesters for staging a demonstration inside a Tesla showroom.
As tensions rise, Tesla’s future—and Musk’s political ambitions—hang in the balance.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com