Hundreds of people protested at Tesla dealerships across the United States over the weekend, marking a significant backlash against Elon Musk and the Trump administration. These protests, which occurred on March 15-16, 2025, spanned major cities including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York, as demonstration activities intensified against what many perceive as Musk's alarming influence on the U.S. government.
On the afternoon of March 15, around 50 protesters gathered outside a Tesla showroom in Brooklyn, marking the fourth demonstration at the facility over the past month. Organizer Kirsten Hassenfeld, 53, voiced her concerns, stating, "This is probably the most consequential moment in US history since, I don’t know, the civil war." She expressed fear over the deterioration of democracy, saying, "I think we’re sliding toward a full-on authoritarian state. I’m terrified.”
The discontent was not only expressed verbally but also through creative protests. Signs held up by demonstrators included messages such as “Musk is too brusque” and “Hands off our data,” along with more extreme demonstrations where vandalism reports included bullets flying through dealership windows and molotov cocktails being thrown at charging stations.
This mounting frustration was mirrored by political figures, including Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, who publicly announced on X (formerly Twitter) his decision to sell his Tesla, claiming, “Every time I get in this car, it reminds me of just how much damage Elon Musk and Donald Trump are doing to our country.” His sentiment was echoed by other notable figures such as actor Jason Bateman and musician Sheryl Crow, the latter stating, “There’s a time you have to decide who you are willing to align with. So long, Tesla.”
Indeed, this disconnect between the once-cherished Tesla brand and its association with Musk has led to significant drops in sales and stock value. Reports indicate Tesla’s stock price has plummeted nearly 50 percent since December 2024, with J.P. Morgan projecting it might fall to $120 per share from its current mark of about $240. Analyst Ryan Brinkman recently reduced his first-quarter global sales estimate from 440,000 to 355,000 vehicles, highlighting this drastic change as unprecedented within the automotive industry.
These recent movements come on the heels of Musk's controversial policies and political affiliations, particularly his connections with the Trump administration. The newly formed Department of Government Efficiency has faced severe backlash due to its sweeping jobs cuts, which have sparked protests and calls for action from various groups worldwide. The Tesla Takedown movement, featuring standard nonviolent protests, is gaining momentum, advocating for Tesla owners to sell their vehicles and divest their investments.
Valerie Costa, one of the leaders from the Seattle-based group known as Troublemakers, addressed these mounting tensions after Elon Musk targeted her for her activism. She wrote, “If we can’t show our opposition to what the government is doing, we are living in a dictatorship.” Costa lamented Musk’s rise as she shared her experience with the protests, which aim to hold him and others accountable for their political actions.
Musk’s response to the protestors has been starkly hostile, with Attorney General Pam Bondi warning demonstrators they could face legal repercussions for their actions and even stating, “We’re coming after you.” Despite this intimidation, protestors remain undeterred, continually gathering at showrooms to make their discontent known. Donna C., who has protested multiple times, articulated her motivation succinctly: “Elon Musk has carte blanche to destroy our country, destroy our democracy.”
Recent surveys demonstrate this discontent extends beyond protests—S&P Global Mobility reported Tesla registration was down 11 percent, even as competitors’ registrations surged by 44 percent. Such figures signal consumers’ growing disassociation from the Tesla brand, breaking the once-loyal relationship many held with it.
Some Tesla owners, like Megan Paulus, express conflicted feelings. She inherited her husband’s Tesla following his death but feels uncomfortable being linked to Musk’s actions. “I no longer wish to be associated with these people. I no longer want to be associated with Elon Musk,” she stated, illustrating the personal impacts of these political shifts.
While many have defected from Tesla ownership, others like Jerel Chacko remain connected to their vehicles, focusing on the car itself rather than the CEO's actions. Chacko remarked, “The perception back then was he focused on the environment, sustainability and space travel,” but acknowledged the growing rift many people feel toward Musk.
The protests have drawn mixed reactions from the automotive community, with some influencers calling Musk's drastic political turn disheartening, leading them to shed once-beloved vehicles. Ronnie and Tarita Bagley described their abandonment of their Tesla due to moral values. “Our personal morals and values were at odds with what he (Musk) stands for,” they conveyed, encapsulating the feelings of moral disconnection many EV consumers now face.
Despite their absence amid protests, Tesla cars still dominate the electric vehicle market, accounting for 42% of U.S. sales, but the questioning of both Musk and the credibility of his company looms large. The varying reactions—celebrities selling their cars to distancing themselves from Musk’s actions—illustrate a significant shift buoyed by powerful emotions and ethical determinations.
Protesters, driven by fear of what they believe Musk embodies, are unabashedly calling for change. “Make no mistake, it’s scary to be personally called out,” Costa noted. Yet many see these protests as just the beginning of larger movements advocating for social justice and environmental stewardship as they aim to challenge power as defined by Musk.
These developments within Tesla and its ownership encapsulate not just the struggles of individuals grappling with personal connections to their electric cars, but also broader societal tensions about governmental power and the influence wielded by wealthy, private citizens like Musk. With protests scheduled for continued momentum, it’s clear the road for Tesla is increasingly fraught with both political and market challenges. The questions surrounding its future remain as volatile as the stock itself.
