Anti-DOGE protests at Tesla stores target Elon Musk's bottom line

Elon Musk has been shaking up Washington in nothing short of *** controversy blitz, from mass government layoffs to preventing aid from getting food into starving children's mouths, even *** Nazi-like salute during the inauguration. In the weeks since, he has begun officially whispering in the president's ear, Tesla's stock has plummeted, with many vowing never to purchase one of their vehicles. But what if you already own one? Many are selling their Tesla cars in an attempt to distance. from the company and its divisive CEO. There was an image that surfaced of *** swastika having been spray painted on *** cyber truck in lower Manhattan just this week. Another Tesla owner says that while his car was previously mildly divisive, for its design aesthetic and technical issues, it's become *** political pariah now with the cyber truck owner telling Newsweek. At first, people would joke about the cybertruck. Give *** thumbs up, thumbs down, whatever. Then. Suddenly I'm getting middle fingers, people yelling at me, acting like I just drove out of *** Trump rally with some who already own Teslas, attaching bumper stickers to their vehicles reading, I bought this before we knew Elon was crazy, all in an attempt to circumvent vandalism. Protesters in 100 cities have also organized #T Teslaakown pickets outside Tesla showrooms, attempting to dissuade potential buyers.

Demonstrators gathered outside Tesla stores across the U.S. Saturday to protest the automaker's billionaire CEO, Elon Musk, and his push to slash government spending on behalf of President Donald Trump.Related video above: Tesla Vehicles Becoming ‘Badge of Shame’ in the Wake of Musk White House TakeoverThe demonstrations are part of a growing backlash in North America and Europe to Musk's disruptive role in Washington.Critics of Trump and Musk hope to discourage and stigmatize purchases of Tesla, the electric car company that is the world's most valuable automaker. Liberal groups for weeks have organized anti-Tesla protests in hopes of galvanizing opposition to Musk's Department of Government Efficiency and energizing Democrats still demoralized by Trump's November victory.“We can get back at Elon,” said Nathan Phillips, a 58-year-old ecologist from Newton, Massachusetts, who was protesting in Boston on Saturday. “We can impose direct economic damage on Tesla by showing up at showrooms everywhere and boycotting Tesla and telling everyone else to get out, sell your stocks, sell your Teslas.”Musk is taking direction from Trump to slash federal spending and sharply reduce the workforce, arguing that Trump's victory gave the president and him a mandate to restructure the U.S. government. DOGE officials have swiftly gained access to sensitive databases, directed thousands of federal job cuts, canceled contracts and shut down sections of the government, including the U.S. Agency for International Development.Musk's critics say his actions defy Congress' power to control the U.S. budget and present a host of ways for him to enrich himself. Musk leads several other companies, notably SpaceX, which conducts launches for NASA and the intelligence community, as well as the social media platform X.“Protests will not deter President Trump and Elon Musk from delivering on the promise to establish DOGE and make our federal government more efficient and more accountable to the hardworking American taxpayers across the country," said White House spokesperson Harrison Fields.Tesla did not respond to an emailed request for comment.More than 50 demonstrations were listed Saturday on the website Tesla Takedown, with more planned later in March from coast to coast in the United States along with England, Spain and Portugal. News reports showed demonstrations in recent days in U.S. cities, including Tucson, Arizona; St. Louis; New York City; Dayton, Ohio; Charlotte; and Palo Alto, California.Some Tesla owners have also reported their vehicles vandalized with spray-painted swastikas amid what Jewish groups and observers fear is a rise in antisemitism.Federal prosecutors charged a woman in connection with a string of vandalism against a Colorado Tesla dealership, which included Molotov cocktails being thrown at vehicles and the words “Nazi cars” spray painted on the building.Saturday's demonstration in Boston had a festive atmosphere, with a brass band playing music as protesters carried signs and chanted. Several of the signs mocked Musk and DOGE, with one reading, “Stop Elon and his despicable Muskrats.”“This government led by Trump and Musk, it’s gone completely off the rails, and we are here to stop that,” said Carina Campovasso, a retired federal worker. “And I hope they listen.”About 300 demonstrators protested at a Tesla dealership in New York City on Saturday. Police said nine people were taken into custody but did not elaborate on the charges they faced.Tesla's share price has fallen by nearly a third since Trump took office, though it's still higher than it was a year ago. Musk’s current net worth is an estimated $359 billion, according to Forbes, which calculated his 2024 net worth as $195 billion.___Cooper reported from Phoenix. Associated Press writer Patrick Whittle in Scarborough, Maine, contributed to this report.

BOSTON —

Related video above: Tesla Vehicles Becoming ‘Badge of Shame’ in the Wake of Musk White House Takeover

The demonstrations are part of a growing backlash in North America and Europe to Musk's disruptive role in Washington.

Critics of Trump and Musk hope to discourage and stigmatize purchases of Tesla, the electric car company that is the world's most valuable automaker. Liberal groups for weeks have organized anti-Tesla protests in hopes of galvanizing opposition to Musk's Department of Government Efficiency and energizing Democrats still demoralized by Trump's November victory.

“We can get back at Elon,” said Nathan Phillips, a 58-year-old ecologist from Newton, Massachusetts, who was protesting in Boston on Saturday. “We can impose direct economic damage on Tesla by showing up at showrooms everywhere and boycotting Tesla and telling everyone else to get out, sell your stocks, sell your Teslas.”

Musk is taking direction from Trump to slash federal spending and sharply reduce the workforce, arguing that Trump's victory gave the president and him a mandate to restructure the U.S. government. DOGE officials have swiftly gained access to sensitive databases, directed thousands of federal job cuts, canceled contracts and shut down sections of the government, including the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Musk's critics say his actions defy Congress' power to control the U.S. budget and present a host of ways for him to enrich himself. Musk leads several other companies, notably SpaceX, which conducts launches for NASA and the intelligence community, as well as the social media platform X.

“Protests will not deter President Trump and Elon Musk from delivering on the promise to establish DOGE and make our federal government more efficient and more accountable to the hardworking American taxpayers across the country," said White House spokesperson Harrison Fields.

Tesla did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

More than 50 demonstrations were listed Saturday on the website Tesla Takedown, with more planned later in March from coast to coast in the United States along with England, Spain and Portugal. News reports showed demonstrations in recent days in U.S. cities, including Tucson, Arizona; St. Louis; New York City; Dayton, Ohio; Charlotte; and Palo Alto, California.

Some Tesla owners have also reported their vehicles vandalized with spray-painted swastikas amid what Jewish groups and observers fear is a rise in antisemitism.

Federal prosecutors charged a woman in connection with a string of vandalism against a Colorado Tesla dealership, which included Molotov cocktails being thrown at vehicles and the words “Nazi cars” spray painted on the building.

Saturday's demonstration in Boston had a festive atmosphere, with a brass band playing music as protesters carried signs and chanted. Several of the signs mocked Musk and DOGE, with one reading, “Stop Elon and his despicable Muskrats.”

“This government led by Trump and Musk, it’s gone completely off the rails, and we are here to stop that,” said Carina Campovasso, a retired federal worker. “And I hope they listen.”

About 300 demonstrators protested at a Tesla dealership in New York City on Saturday. Police said nine people were taken into custody but did not elaborate on the charges they faced.

Tesla's share price has fallen by nearly a third since Trump took office, though it's still higher than it was a year ago. Musk’s current net worth is an estimated $359 billion, according to Forbes, which calculated his 2024 net worth as $195 billion.

___

Cooper reported from Phoenix. Associated Press writer Patrick Whittle in Scarborough, Maine, contributed to this report.

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