Tesla Takedown Protest Hits All 277 Dealerships \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Protesters rallied outside Tesla dealerships across the U.S. and Europe on Saturday in opposition to Elon Musk’s role in Trump’s government. The coordinated effort, known as Tesla Takedown, marks the largest organized action yet aimed at hurting Tesla’s sales and Musk’s influence. Demonstrations remained mostly peaceful, though isolated vandalism and violence were reported.
Tesla Protests Against Elon Musk – Quick Looks
- Protesters target all 277 Tesla dealerships in U.S.
- Global Tesla Takedown rallies held in Europe and UK
- Movement opposes Musk’s role in Trump’s government
- Elon Musk leads newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
- Demonstrators carry signs like “Honk if you hate Elon”
- Lawmakers Jasmine Crockett and Pramila Jayapal join protests
- Actor John Cusack among celebrities backing Tesla Takedown
- London protesters display anti-Musk imagery and slogans
- Arson destroys seven Teslas in Germany; cause under investigation
- Vandalism incidents spark warnings from U.S. Attorney General
- Musk defends Tesla, predicts strong Model Y sales
- Early Tesla buyers distancing from Musk with bumper stickers
- Tesla stock surge after Trump’s win now reversed
- Musk’s leadership faces scrutiny over government entanglements
- Analyst warns Musk is in a “brand tornado” moment
Deep Look
In a dramatic escalation of the growing backlash against Elon Musk, demonstrators gathered outside Tesla showrooms and service centers in the U.S. and Europe on Saturday, protesting his role in reshaping the federal government under President Donald Trump. The protests—part of a rapidly expanding movement called Tesla Takedown—aimed to target all 277 Tesla locations in the U.S., as well as hundreds more worldwide.
The demonstrators are pushing back against Musk’s leadership of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), through which he has acquired unprecedented access to sensitive government data and shut down entire federal agencies in the name of cost-cutting. The movement is focused on weakening Musk’s economic power by going after Tesla, the company that forms the backbone of his estimated $340 billion fortune.
While past protests had been isolated and scattered, Saturday’s campaign represented the first full-scale, coordinated global effort to disrupt business at Tesla dealerships and strike at Musk’s reputation. Protesters from New Jersey to Texas, and Massachusetts to Minnesota turned up in growing numbers, holding signs like “Honk if you hate Elon” and “Fight the billionaire broligarchy.”
Demonstrations spilled into major cities including Washington, Chicago, Seattle, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati, as well as smaller towns in Colorado, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. In Dublin, California, near San Francisco, protesters chanted “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Elon Musk has got to go!” across from a smaller group of Trump supporters waving American flags.
A larger crowd encircled a Tesla location in nearby Berkeley, marching to the beat of drums and chanting against what they view as an emerging corporate-authoritarian alliance. “We’re living in a fascist state,” said Dennis Fagaly, a retired teacher from Oakland. “If we don’t stop this, we’ll lose everything that’s good about this country.”
Protests Go Global
Though smaller in scale, European protests echoed the same outrage. In London, about two dozen demonstrators held signs comparing Musk to historical authoritarian figures. One poster showed Musk alongside Adolf Hitler with the caption “Don’t buy a Swasticar,” referencing an alleged straight-arm salute Musk made after Trump’s January inauguration—an image that has since gone viral.
“We just want to get loud, make noise, make people aware,” said Cam Whitten, an American attending the London protest.
The Tesla Takedown movement has attracted support from disillusioned Tesla owners, progressive activists, celebrities like actor John Cusack, and elected officials such as Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA). Jayapal appeared at a protest in Seattle, while Crockett encouraged the movement on an earlier organizing call: “I’ll keep screaming in Congress. I need you to keep screaming in the streets.”
Vandalism and Violence Emerge
While organizers stressed the importance of nonviolent protest, there have been instances of property damage and arson. In northwestern Germany, police are investigating a fire that destroyed seven Tesla vehicles early Saturday. It remains unclear if the incident is linked to the protests. In Watertown, Massachusetts, two protesters were struck by the side mirror of a pickup truck near a Tesla center; police said the injuries were not serious, and the driver was identified at the scene.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has condemned recent acts of vandalism—including arson—as domestic terrorism, while Musk expressed confusion and frustration during a March 20 company meeting, telling employees: “The vandals need to stop acting psycho.”
Consumers Respond, Tesla Sales Slide
The protests come amid reports that Tesla’s U.S. sales are slipping, as a growing number of consumers seek to distance themselves from Musk’s politics. Some are selling or trading in their vehicles, while others have added bumper stickers reading “Pre-DOGE Owner” or “My Tesla, Not My Tyrant.”
Still, Musk struck a confident tone during his March employee address, predicting that the Model Y would remain “the best-selling car on Earth again this year.” He added that Tesla would surpass 10 million global vehicle sales by 2026, up from its current total of about 7 million.
“There are rocky moments, but the future is incredibly bright,” Musk told workers. “Storms come and go. Innovation stays.”
Market Reaction: From Surge to Slump
Following Trump’s election in November, investors initially celebrated Musk’s elevated role in government. Tesla’s stock jumped 70% between the election and the January 20 inauguration, creating $560 billion in shareholder value. But nearly all those gains have since evaporated amid fears about the political fallout, reduced international demand, and Musk’s growing entanglement in federal affairs.
Analysts are divided over the long-term impact. Dan Ives, a senior tech analyst at Wedbush Securities, warned in a recent note: “This continues to be a moment of truth for Musk. He’s navigating a brand tornado and must find a path out of this dark chapter.”
As protests intensify and Tesla becomes a symbol in the battle over democracy, corporate power, and public trust, the question remains whether Musk can steer his company—and his image—through the storm.
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