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 ( ▼ 2.08% ) 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.
What they’re saying: At a recent all-hands meeting, Musk tried to rally his employees. “If you read the news, it feels like Armageddon,” he said. “I can’t walk past the TV without seeing a Tesla on fire.” Then he added (referencing the vandals), “This is psycho, stop being psycho!”
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