The Blubber

Trump Threatens Domestic Terrorism Labels for Violence Against Tesla Dealerships

President Donald Trump announced plans to label violence against Tesla dealerships as domestic terrorism, as part of a growing alliance with Elon Musk, according to a transcript shared by White House pool reporters.

Protests, referred to as "Tesla Takeovers," have erupted worldwide at Tesla locations. These protests are in response to what demonstrators perceive as a hostile takeover of the federal government by Musk and his newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Some of these protests have escalated to vandalism, including graffiti on Tesla signs, fires at charging stations, and even Molotov cocktails thrown at a dealership.

The unrest coincides with Tesla’s stock price decline, falling below its value after Trump's election in November 2024 and underperforming compared to the broader stock market. Additionally, global sales of Tesla vehicles have plummeted as Musk’s political involvement appears to have impacted the brand's reputation.

Trump, during a meeting with Musk at the White House, vowed to take action against those committing violence against Tesla.

"I’m going to stop them," Trump declared. "If we catch anybody doing this, they’re harming a great American company."
"And let me tell you, you do it to Tesla, and you do it to any company, we’re going to catch you, and you’re going to go through hell."

Under federal law, attacks on company property can be classified as domestic terrorism if they are intended to intimidate or coerce civilians, influence government property, or disrupt government operations through destruction or violence.

However, the risk lies in how Trump and Musk define violence moving forward, and whether peaceful protests might be unfairly labeled as violent. Trump’s previous statements on deporting international students who participate in protests related to the Gaza conflict have raised concerns that individuals holding green cards or visas in the U.S. could face similar threats for protesting against Tesla.

Since issuing an executive order in January to form DOGE, which aims to cut government spending, Musk, who donated $260 million to a super PAC supporting Trump, has overseen the layoff of government workers and the dismantling of agencies like USAID. Critics say this has created an environment of anger and confusion within the government.

Musk has also targeted other agencies for potential cuts, despite his companies benefitting from government contracts, particularly through SpaceX, which has received over $20 billion from agencies like NASA and the Department of Defense.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Trump also mentioned his plan to purchase a Tesla, which he joked would be “used by White House staffers, though I wouldn’t be allowed to drive it.”

"I think he’s been treated very unfairly by a very small group of people," Trump said. "And I just want people to know that he can’t be penalized for being a patriot."