Backlash continues against Elon Musk’s political ascent—Tesla caught in the crosshairs

In a world where CEOs are no longer just business leaders but political figures—few have blurred the line quite like Elon Musk.

For context: Musk officially joined the Trump administration this year and now leads the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.

The goal? Cut red tape, trim spending, and bring a tech mindset to Washington.

Yes, but since Musk’s appointment, Tesla $TSLA ( ▼ 0.54% ) facilities across the country have been targeted in acts of vandalism and arson.

• In Seattle, four Cybertrucks were set on fire.

• In Las Vegas, someone tossed Molotov cocktails at a Tesla service center and spray-painted the word RESIST across its front doors.

• In Oregon, a man attacked a Tesla store in Salem with firebombs — and days later returned to shoot out the windows.

• Charging stations in South Carolina were torched.

• And in Colorado, a woman was arrested for throwing Molotov cocktails and painting “Nazi cars” on a Tesla dealership wall.

Worth noting: None of these attacks caused injuries, but Attorney General Pam Bondi called the incidents “domestic terrorism.” President Trump went even further—stating on social media that anyone caught vandalizing a Tesla could serve a 20-year sentence… in a prison in El Salvador.

Zooming in: The backlash hasn’t stopped with bricks and Molotov cocktails. It’s also gone digital.

• Just days after the Vegas fire, a website appeared showing an interactive map of Tesla owners and employees—names, addresses, even photos.

• The page encouraged visitors to find nearby Teslas and “unleash your artistic flair.”

• The site was eventually taken down, but not before it spread across social media.

• The FBI and ATF are now investigating—not just the doxxing but a wave of “swatting” incidents that appear to be tied to the same online networks.

As a result: Tesla has responded by activating Sentry Mode across all store vehicles—turning on cameras and sensors to monitor suspicious behavior and record potential threats.

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