Protests at Tesla Stores Target Musk Over Government Spending Cuts

Demonstrators gathered outside Tesla stores across the US and Europe on Saturday in a coordinated effort to protest CEO Elon Musk’s involvement in government spending reductions under President Donald Trump’s administration, the Associated Press reports.

The protests reflect a growing backlash against Musk’s influence in Washington, particularly through his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has spearheaded deep federal budget cuts and workforce reductions.

The protests, organized by liberal activist groups, aim to discourage Tesla purchases and pressure consumers to distance themselves from Musk’s businesses. Events took place in cities including New York, Boston, St. Louis, Tucson, and Palo Alto, with additional demonstrations planned in England, Spain, and Portugal later in March.

Some protesters called for a Tesla boycott, urging consumers to sell their stock and vehicles in response to Musk’s policies.

“We can impose direct economic damage on Tesla by showing up at showrooms everywhere, boycotting Tesla, and telling everyone else to get out,” said Nathan Phillips, a demonstrator in Boston.

The Tesla Takedown website, which has been promoting the movement, listed over 50 demonstrations for the day.

Musk’s involvement in Trump’s push for spending reductions has been a major source of controversy. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk oversees, has been responsible for thousands of federal job cuts, contract cancellations, and the shutdown of government agencies, including the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Critics argue that these moves bypass Congress’s authority over the budget and could provide financial benefits to Musk’s companies, including SpaceX, which has government contracts with NASA and the intelligence community.

The White House defended Musk and DOGE, dismissing the protests.

“Protests will not deter President Trump and Elon Musk from delivering on the promise to establish DOGE and make our federal government more efficient and more accountable to hardworking American taxpayers,” said White House spokesperson Harrison Fields.

While most demonstrations were peaceful, some incidents of vandalism have been reported. In Colorado, federal prosecutors charged a woman with vandalizing a Tesla dealership, including Molotov cocktail attacks and spray-painting “Nazi cars” on the building.

Additionally, some Tesla owners have reported their vehicles being vandalized with swastikas, raising concerns from Jewish organizations about a potential rise in antisemitic sentiment.

During a New York City protest, about 300 people gathered outside a Tesla showroom. Police reported that nine individuals were taken into custody, though details on their charges were not immediately available.

Despite the protests, Tesla has not issued an official response.

Tesla’s stock price has declined by nearly a third since Trump took office, though it remains higher than its value a year ago. Musk’s net worth, which stood at $195 billion in 2024, is currently estimated at $359 billion, according to Forbes.