Tesla owners are finding themselves amidst a maelstrom of controversy and violence, as the backlash against Elon Musk escalates. Incidents across the nation have seen Tesla vehicles and dealerships targeted by vandalism, with some owners feeling they're unjustly caught in the crossfire of public anger towards the CEO's political affiliations and actions. Longtime Tesla fan Eric Ramos expressed his concerns to the Chicago Sun-Times, stating "I think it’s idiotic for somebody to take it out on somebody else’s property."
In response to the upheaval, some Tesla owners have resorted to affixing stickers to their cars, disassociating themselves from Musk's politics as a measure of protection. However, the concerns extend beyond property damage; ride-share driver Miguel, who withheld his last name due to safety worries, has experienced ride cancellations and prejudgment from customers due to his Tesla vehicle. "Messing with people’s property is not great, especially when the regular person is going through the same struggles, troubles and tribulation that everyone else is," he told the Sun-Times. Meanwhile, local body shops like Richard’s Body Shop in Albany Park have reported seeing an uptick in vandalized Teslas.
While property owners suffer, Elon Musk's fortune and ventures have taken a simultaneous hit. After a troubling week with a Tesla stock selloff and heightened criticism of his role in the so-called "department of government efficiency" (Doge), Musk's wealth dropped by approximately $22 billion in one day, according to a report from The Guardian. The Tesla CEO, who has dubbed himself "first buddy," faced a heated exchange with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a White House meeting and was later chastised by President Trump in a post on Truth Social.
Despite these setbacks, both Musk and his companies have drawn critical support from high-profile figures. President Donald Trump was recently seen lavishing praise on a new Tesla Model S and proclaiming his purchase of it. Tensions remain high, however, with Attorney General Pam Bondi announcing an investigation into the vandalism targeting Tesla, and signs of more protests looming on the horizon.
