In the last couple of days, protests have erupted across the U.S. against Elon Musk’s cost-cutting plans under Donald Trump’s administration. The CEO of Tesla has suggested reducing federal spending, which has led to widespread concerns about job losses. Protesters have targeted Tesla stores and charging stations, escalating to acts of vandalism, including a Supercharger defaced with a swastika and the word ‘Nazi.’ Additionally, reports have surfaced that a Tesla store in Seattle was forced to shut down. In response to the rising cases of vandalism, the California-based EV manufacturer has announced plans to take legal action against those responsible.
Series of vandalism incidents
What was initially thought to be a temporary wave of protests has now spread across the U.S., Canada, and even parts of Europe. While most protests have remained peaceful, there have been reports of property damage, including at Tesla charging stations. The official Tesla Charging account on X has responded, stating, “We will press charges for vandalism at Superchargers.”
A Tesla EV owner shared an image on X of a charging station in Salt Lake City, Utah, spray-painted with the word ‘Nazi.’ In his post, he commented, “This graffiti at my local Supercharger suggests that Elon Musk might be damaging Tesla’s brand.” The Tesla Charging team quickly responded, saying, “It will be removed by tomorrow morning. Our network will remain in first-class condition for our customers.”
In Loveland, Colorado, a Tesla store’s windows were written “Nazi cars” and painted X on the EVs parked in the lot.
Tesla owners facing the brunt
Tesla EV owners are not being spared by the vandals as a Cybertruck was painted with a swastika in Manhattan. Unfortunately in Gothenburg, Sweden, four Tesla EVs were set on fire. One person commented on social media, “Not a great car to own in NYC these days.”