Billionaire Elon Musk called on Sunday to arrest and prosecute the organizers behind the anti-Tesla protests held at around 200 Tesla showrooms around the world on Saturday.
Newsweek reached out to Musk on Sunday through two companies, Tesla and X, for comment.
Why is it important?
Although protests are constitutionally protected, Musk’s appeal for prosecution is charged as President Donald Trump and other conservatives routinely suggest that protesters they disagree with should be targeted.
The protest was held as a “Global Day of Action” intended to strike Tesla’s CEO with his wallet in retaliation for the widespread cuts he made through the federal government and its spending through the unofficial agency Trump created through the executive order.
Another group of “Tesla Takedown” protests are asking people to sell or throw away Tesla stocks to “tank.”
Meanwhile, organizers have repeatedly highlighted the peaceful nature of these protests, in contrast to some violent and famous incidents that have occurred in recent weeks involving Tesla showrooms and vehicles.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
What do you know
The high-tech billionaire leading Doge has faced criticism for trying to access sensitive American personal data and implementing widespread cuts to federal agencies, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Critics say his company continues to profit from government contracts while Musk cuts federal programs, reportedly earning “$8 million a day on these contracts alone.”
According to a video posted to X, a protester lying on the streets of New York City, it reads, “Medicaid cut killed me,” “Death by Doge Bite,” and “Rip Musk cut back on Trump.” Secondly, it is illegal to organize a campaign to seek someone else’s death.
Trump said in January that his administration “love and cherishes” Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
“We’re not going to do anything with it unless we find abuse or waste,” he said. “People are not affected. It’s just more effective and better.”
In another X post, Musk shared a video of protesters facing cybertruck drivers on Sunday, writing, “It’s time to fund the attack. Arresting those who arrested their dolls and paid their wages won’t stop violence.”
The protests ranged from superficial vandalism such as spray-coated Tesla vehicles to using fire CEN equipment and controlling fires to showrooms and cars.
Some of the vandalism includes Nazi symbols in connection with the controversial gesture masks created during Trump’s second inauguration.
But Musk called claims from his critics that he played the Nazis in honor of “dirty tricks.”
Meanwhile, Tesla’s stock performance has fluctuated significantly in recent months, rising after Trump’s election victory, but has declined as Musk becomes more involved in federal cuts.
Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
What people are saying
The protest organizers on the Tesla Takedown website wrote:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a public warning last week about Telsa’s vandalism as protests continued. “These criminal cases appear to have been committed by only criminals, and all known cases occurred at night, making it difficult to identify and arrest the parties involved.”
The bureau added: “Individuals rarely need plans to use rudimentary tactics, such as improvised burning Cen devices or firearms. These attacks can be perceived as property crimes without victims.”
In a statement on March 18, Attorney General Pam Bondi said, “The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla’s property is nothing but domestic terrorism. The Department of Justice has charged multiple perpetrators with that in mind, including cases that include charges with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years.
What will happen next
Ben Williamson, assistant director of public relations for the FBI, confirmed last week that X was launching a task force to “crash violent Tesla attacks.”
Meanwhile, legal experts are watching to see if Musk continues his vows in pursuit of legal action against protest organizers.
