The Tesla Takedown is Exactly What it Claims Its Fighting: Fascist.
In recent weeks, a wave of protests dubbed the "Tesla Takedown" has swept across the United States, targeting Tesla, Inc., its CEO Elon Musk, and his role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). What began as a movement to voice discontent over Musk’s political influence has spiraled into a disturbing trend of vandalism, intimidation, and outright hypocrisy. Beyond attacking Tesla stores and Superchargers, protesters have escalated to targeting personal property, threatening Tesla owners, and even creating a website to dox individuals until they sell their vehicles. This is not just an assault on a company—it’s an attack on individual rights, cloaked in the very authoritarian tactics these activists claim to oppose.
The Tesla Takedown movement, initially coordinated through platforms like Bluesky and Action Network, aimed to hit Musk economically by urging boycotts and divestment. While many demonstrations remain peaceful, a growing number have turned destructive. Since January 2025, over a dozen violent incidents have been reported against Tesla facilities. In Littleton, Massachusetts, seven Superchargers were torched on March 3 in a suspected arson attack, leaving heavy fire damage. In Tigard, Oregon, a Tesla dealership was hit with gunfire twice in one week—on March 6 and March 13—shattering windows and damaging vehicles. In Las Vegas, five Teslas were set ablaze on March 18 in what police called a “targeted attack,” with the word “RESIST” spray-painted on the storefront.
Superchargers, critical to Tesla’s infrastructure, have become prime targets. In California, over 30 Superchargers have been vandalized since January, some scratched with messages like “Elon Sucks,” according to state highway patrol reports. In North Charleston, South Carolina, a masked individual spray-painted “F*** Trump” and “Long Live Ukraine” before hurling Molotov cocktails at charging stations on March 7, accidentally setting himself on fire in the process. These acts go far beyond protest—they’re criminal assaults on property and public safety.
The aggression doesn’t stop at corporate assets. Tesla owners are now finding their personal vehicles in the crosshairs. In Tampa, Florida, a Tesla Cybertruck was torched last month, with police linking the arson to anti-Musk graffiti nearby. In Lynnwood, Washington, six Teslas at a dealership were vandalized on March 8, one defaced with swastikas. Owners report harassment in everyday life—Jed Bratt, a Tesla owner in San Diego, recounted on X how passersby called his car a “Swastika car” and noted a spike in local vandalism against Teslas. Another owner in Manhattan returned from dinner to find an expletive aimed at Musk scrawled on his vehicle.
Perhaps the most alarming development came to light during a White House press conference on March 19, 2025. A reporter confronted Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt with evidence of a website designed to dox Tesla owners. This platform reportedly collects personal information—names, addresses, even license plates—and publicly shames owners, refusing to remove their data unless they provide proof they’ve sold their Teslas. Leavitt called the tactic “despicable,” noting the irony of protesters claiming to fight fascism while employing such coercive measures. The website’s existence marks a sinister escalation, transforming a corporate grudge into a personal vendetta that holds individuals’ privacy hostage.
The Tesla Takedown isn’t just about physical destruction—it’s also an economic siege. Organizers like sociologist Joan Donovan have explicitly stated their goal is to “hit [Musk] in his wallet,” encouraging shareholders to dump Tesla stock. Since the protests intensified, Tesla’s stock has plummeted nearly 48% in 2025, compounded by declining sales and a tarnished brand image. While market factors like competition play a role, the relentless campaign against Musk’s political involvement has undeniably fueled the downturn. The irony is thick: a movement decrying wealth inequality is actively working to devalue a company that employs thousands and drives innovation.
These activists claim to oppose fascism and Nazism, yet their methods—property destruction, intimidation, and doxing—mirror the authoritarian playbook they condemn. Protesting is a fundamental right, protected as free speech. But as Elon Musk himself noted on X, “Damaging the property of others, aka vandalism, is not free speech!” Threatening individuals for their consumer choices, burning their cars, and extorting them into compliance isn’t resistance—it’s tyranny. The swastikas spray-painted on Teslas, meant as an accusation, instead reflect the protesters’ own descent into mob rule.
A Call to Action
We stand unequivocally with Tesla and its owners. The right to protest does not extend to infringing on others’ rights—whether it’s Tesla’s corporate property or an individual’s personal vehicle. Congress must take note: anyone targeting Teslas, Superchargers, stores, or private property should face swift arrest and prosecution. Attorney General Pam Bondi has already labeled these acts “nothing short of domestic terrorism,” promising severe consequences. President Trump echoed this on March 18, vowing to catch and punish perpetrators, saying, “You do it to Tesla and you do it to any company, you’re going to go through hell.”
This isn’t about silencing dissent—it’s about upholding the rule of law. You can march, chant, and boycott all you want. But the moment you torch a car, deface a Supercharger, or threaten a citizen’s safety and privacy, you’ve crossed into criminal territory. That’s not protest; that’s fascism dressed up as justice. It cannot stand.
