President Trump officially declared acts of violence and destruction against Tesla dealerships as “domestic terrorism,” adding fuel to the tensions surrounding the ongoing “#TeslaTakedown” protests. The movement gained momentum as a backlash against Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s role with the Trump administration, including as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which made drastic federal expenditure cuts and employee layoffs.
Protests which were peaceful initially have now turned into a series of attacks, including vandalism and arson against Tesla centers in the United States and Europe. A Tesla store was repeatedly vandalized in the early part of 2025 in Loveland, Colorado. Molotov cocktails were thrown against a Tesla store in Salem, Oregon, on January 20th. Shots were fired against a Tesla location in Tigard, Oregon, on the 19th of February. Overseas, twelve Tesla vehicles were burned in Toulouse, eight of them completely destroyed. Tesla charging stations around Boston were also burned and the windows of most dealerships were shattered in major cities.
In response to the heightened violence, President Trump moved into the podium inside the White House on March 11 and announced the perpetrators of such actions “will go through hell.” He explained that targeting a major American company not only risks the economy but also national stability.
They are ruining a great American company,” Trump declared at a press conference where he stood alongside Tesla’s Elon Musk, also wearing a black “Make America Great Again” baseball cap. “You do it with Tesla, and you do it with any company, we’re going to get you, and. you’re going to go through hell.”
White House spokesperson Harrison Fields reinforced this claim by stating “ongoing and heinous acts of violence against Tesla by radical Leftist activists are nothing short of domestic terror.”
Despite these allegations, organizers of the “Tesla Takedown” protests have denied involvement with violence. On social network Bluesky, the movement posted a message asserting, “Peaceful protest on public property is not domestic terrorism. They are trying to intimidate us. We will not let them succeed.”
Trump and Musk’s association came into the limelight for the last few months with Musk’s new leadership role for the DOGE falling into place with his longstanding advocacy for reducing government regulations. Musk’s role is criticized by many as granting him too much authority over policy favors for Tesla but Trump has repeatedly hailed the role played by Musk towards the American economy.
Sealing the deal further, Trump made the step towards purchasing a red Tesla Model S as a symbol of his support for Musk. He didn’t drive the vehicle himself but wanted to purchase the car at the full price as a symbol of his belief in the success of Tesla. “I already bought a Cybertruck for my granddaughter,” Trump further declared, appreciating the innovations made by Musk.
Tesla’s stock has seen volatile fluctuations over the past few weeks. The company’s stock dropped following reports of protests and declining sales. However, following Trump’s comments made on March 11, Tesla shares went up by nearly 4% after recovering from the biggest single-day fall in over four years.
Despite these fluctuations, Musk remains hopeful about the future of Tesla. Speaking during the event hosted in the White House, he announced Tesla’s plans to double its vehicle production within two years with the increase attributed to the policy of the Trump administration.
As part of the exceptional policy by President Trump’s government and a demonstration of faith in America, Tesla will double its vehicle production inside the United States within two years, Musk stated.
Tesla’s declining stock price also worried investors who attributed the losses to Musk’s increased political involvement. Some were concerned his political associations were diverting his attention from Tesla’s core functions. However, Musk reassured stakeholders he would remain with Tesla and stated, “I will remain in Washington as long as I am useful, but Tesla is still first.”
Trump’s designation of the Tesla-related violence as “domestic terrorism” has caused heated legal controversy. The perpetrators would be prosecutable by the Justice Department under the anti-terrorism provisions, but experts argue the destruction of a car dealership does not amount to the federal crime of terrorism because it does not have the intent to intimidate or coerce a government or population for political or social objectives.
“There’s a gray area legally here,” said David Kendall, a professor of constitutional law. “If these were political and were intended to induce fear in a wide group of people, there could be a case. But defining property damage as domestic terrorism sets a troubling precedent.”
