Billionaire Elon Musk called on Sunday for the arrest and prosecution of organizers behind anti-Tesla protests that were held on Saturday at approximately 200 Tesla showrooms worldwide.
Newsweek reached out to Musk via two of his companies, Tesla and X, on Sunday for comment.
Why It Matters
While protesting is constitutionally protected, Musk’s calls for prosecution come as President Donald Trump and other conservatives have routinely suggested that protesters they disagree with should be targeted.
The protests were held as a “global day of action” aiming to hit the Tesla CEO in his wallet as retaliation for widespread cuts he has made to the federal government and its spending through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an unofficial agency created through executive order by Trump.
Another layer of the “Tesla Takedown” protest movement has also called on people to sell or dump Tesla stock in order to “tank” it.
Meanwhile, the organizers have repeatedly stressed the peaceful nature of these protests in contrast to the several violent and high-profile incidents that have occurred in recent weeks involving Tesla showrooms and vehicles.
What To Know
The tech billionaire, who leads DOGE, has faced criticism for attempting to access sensitive personal data of Americans and implementing widespread cuts to federal agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Critics have noted that while Musk cuts federal programs, his companies continue to benefit from government contracts, reportedly earning “$8 million a day from those contracts alone.”
In response to a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, of protesters lying in the street in New York City holding paper made tombstones that read: “Medicaid cuts killed me,” “Death by DOGE bite,” “RIP Musk made Trump cut Social Security,” among other signs, Musk wrote: “First of all, there are no cuts to Medicaid, Social Security or other entitlements, unless stopping fraud is considered a ‘cut.’ Second, organizing a campaign to call for the death of someone is illegal. The organizers and funders will be found and prosecuted.”
Trump said in January that his administration would “love and cherish” Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
“We’re not going to do anything with that, unless we can find some abuse or waste,” he said. “The people won’t be affected. It will only be more effective and better.”
In another X post, Musk shared a video on Sunday of protesters confronting a Cybertruck driver and wrote: “It is time to arrest those funding the attacks. Arresting their puppets and paid foot-soldiers won’t stop the violence.”
The protests have ranged from superficial vandalism such as spray-painting Tesla vehicles to using incendiary devices and setting fire to showrooms and cars.
Some of the vandalism has included Nazi symbols in reference to the controversial gesture Musk made at Trump’s second inauguration, which many interpreted as a Nazi salute.
Musk, however, called the allegation that he did a Nazi salute a “dirty trick” by his critics.
Meanwhile, Tesla’s stock performance has fluctuated significantly in recent months, rising after Trump’s election victory but then declining as Musk became more involved in federal government cuts.
What People Are Saying
Protest organizers on the “Tesla Takedown” website wrote: “Elon Musk is destroying our democracy, and he’s using the fortune he built at Tesla to do it. We are taking action at Tesla to stop Musk’s illegal coup.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a public warning last week about Telsa vandalism as protests continued: “These criminal actions appear to have been conducted by lone offenders, and all known incidents occurred at night, making identification and arrest of the actors difficult.”
The bureau added: “Individuals require little planning to use rudimentary tactics, such as improvised incendiary devices and firearms, and may perceive these attacks as victimless property crimes.”
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in a March 18 statement: “The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism. The Department of Justice has already charged several perpetrators with that in mind, including in cases that involve charges with five-year mandatory minimum sentences. We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes.”
What Happens Next
Ben Williamson, assistant director for public affairs at the FBI, confirmed on X last week that the agency is launching a task force to “crack down on violent Tesla attacks.”
Meanwhile, legal experts will be watching to see if Musk follows through on his vow to pursue legal action against protest organizers.
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