Trump Floats 20 Years in El Salvador Prisons for Tesla Attackers/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump suggested that individuals convicted of Tesla-related arson attacks could serve their sentences in El Salvador, where conditions are “lovely.” The comments come amid a surge in Tesla-targeted violence across the U.S., prompting federal domestic terrorism investigations. Three suspects have been charged with firebombing Tesla properties using Molotov cocktails.
Tesla Arson Fallout: Quick Looks
- Trump suggests Tesla arsonists be sent to El Salvador’s high-security prisons
- FBI investigating string of Tesla-related arson, vandalism, and gunfire in 9 states
- Three charged in Molotov cocktail attacks in Oregon, Colorado, and South Carolina
- Suspects face up to 20 years in prison under federal charges
- DOJ says attacks represent rising wave of “domestic terrorism”
- Trump vows crackdown on “sick terrorist thugs,” issues warning to accomplices
- El Salvador recently accepted 238 alleged Venezuelan gang members from U.S.
- Trump and Attorney General Pamela Bondi promise more arrests and tougher penalties
Trump Floats 20 Years in El Salvador Prisons for Tesla Attackers
Deep Look
Trump Proposes Sending Tesla Arsonists to El Salvador Prisons Amid Domestic Terror Probe
President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric against individuals attacking Tesla properties nationwide, suggesting Friday that convicted arsonists serve their possible 20-year sentences in El Salvador’s controversial mega-prison.
“I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20-year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla,” Trump posted on TRUTH Social. “Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions!”
His remarks come as the FBI continues investigating a wave of targeted attacks against Tesla vehicles, charging stations, and facilities, which have spanned at least nine states. The incidents include Molotov cocktail firebombings, shootings, and graffiti—often bearing political messages.
DOJ Charges Three Suspects With Arson
On Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced charges against three individuals accused of launching Molotov cocktail attacks on Tesla properties in Oregon, Colorado, and South Carolina.
“These are serious crimes. The days of committing violent political acts without consequence are over,” Bondi stated. “Let this serve as a warning—if you engage in domestic terrorism against Tesla, we will put you behind bars.”
In Salem, Oregon, one defendant allegedly threw eight Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership and was found carrying a suppressed AR-15 rifle at the time of arrest. In Colorado, another suspect attempted to ignite Tesla vehicles and was later found with materials for more incendiary weapons. A third individual in Charleston, South Carolina, was charged after scrawling anti-Trump messages around a Tesla charging station and lighting it on fire.
Each of the three faces a minimum of five years in federal prison, with potential maximum sentences reaching 20 years.
Violence Targets Tesla Across U.S.
The Justice Department’s crackdown follows a concerning trend of attacks aimed at Tesla, which has increasingly become a lightning rod for protestors, especially in progressive cities. Incidents have been reported in Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Colorado, and South Carolina.
In Seattle, four Tesla Cybertrucks were set ablaze earlier this month. Witnesses also saw a man ignite a Model S with gasoline on a city street. In Las Vegas, Tesla vehicles were torched outside a service center while the word “RESIST” was spray-painted across the entrance. FBI officials there confirmed that Molotov cocktails and gunfire were involved.
“Was this terrorism? Was it something else?” said Spencer Evans, special agent in charge of the Las Vegas FBI office. “It certainly has many of the hallmarks of politically motivated violence.”
In Tigard, Oregon, over a dozen bullets were fired at a Tesla showroom, marking the second attack on the location in a week.
El Salvador Prison Option Raises Eyebrows
Trump’s suggestion that convicted arsonists could be transferred to El Salvador’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) drew swift attention. The facility, used by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to detain thousands of alleged gang members under a controversial anti-crime crackdown, has been the subject of international scrutiny for its harsh conditions.
Last week, El Salvador accepted 238 alleged members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua criminal organization via U.S. deportation flights. The men were filmed being escorted into CECOT by armed guards. Bukele said they would be held for one year, with the term “renewable.”
Trump’s mention of El Salvador’s facilities adds a provocative element to the broader crackdown on those accused of attacking Tesla—whose CEO, Elon Musk, now serves as the president’s lead advisor on government efficiency and innovation.
Trump: “We Are Looking for You”
In a post on Thursday, Trump issued a blunt warning to anyone involved in Tesla-related violence:
“People that get caught sabotaging Teslas will stand a very good chance of going to jail for up to twenty years, and that includes the finders. WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOU!!!”
Musk has yet to issue a public statement on the latest attacks, but top officials in the Trump administration have vowed further arrests in the coming weeks. The Department of Homeland Security has also confirmed coordination with local law enforcement agencies in areas where Tesla incidents have occurred.
The administration’s tough stance on crimes targeting Tesla reflects the symbolic importance of Musk’s company to Trump’s broader domestic policy agenda, which includes aggressive deregulation, infrastructure overhauls, and American-made manufacturing initiatives.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.