Protesters gathered at over 50 Tesla showrooms across the United States on Saturday to protest CEO Elon Musk’s involvement in the controversial Department of Government Efficiency, a newly established agency under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The protests, organized under the banner of “Tesla Takedown,” aim to push stakeholders to divest from Tesla and put pressure on Musk.
According to the movement’s website, participants are urged to “sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines.”
An actor and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, Alex Winter, is one of the key organizers behind the initiative.
He told CNN, “Creating a vote of no confidence in him from the shareholders, that would be the ultimate goal.”
Origins of the Movement
The first Tesla Takedown protest took place on February 15, following a suggestion by sociologist and Boston University professor Joan Donovan. The idea surfaced on Bluesky, a social media platform positioned as an alternative to Musk’s X.
Since taking charge of DOGE on January 20, Musk has faced criticism for his policies, including workforce reductions, buyout offers for federal employees, dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development and seeking control over sensitive payment systems.
The movement is gaining traction globally, with protests spreading beyond the U.S. A demonstration was held in Barcelona on Friday, and additional protests are planned in London, Lisbon, and Reykjavik over the weekend, Winter revealed.
“I am very satisfied, even with where we are now,” Winter said. “We provided people an easy way to protest during a very difficult time.”
The demonstrations have ranged in size, with some of the most significant turnouts in Boston, Portland, California, and Florida.
In Tucson, Arizona, around 1,000 people gathered with protest signs, while a small protest outside a Tesla showroom in Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood quickly grew from two participants to about 20.
Chants of “Elon Musk has got to go” echoed through the streets as drivers honked in support.
Peter Jones, a 59-year-old pilot, recounted how he and his wife stumbled upon the protest in Washington, D.C. after she heard the chanting.
“It feels great because right now I feel powerless,” Jones told CNN. “Nobody can keep up with all of the destruction. I don’t feel empowered unless we get out into the street; that’s one thing we have is mass.”
His wife, Bonnie Jones, expressed concerns over Musk’s expanding influence, particularly through ventures like Starlink. She pointed out that, unlike other Trump appointees, Musk was never vetted through a formal confirmation process.
In Washington, D.C., protesters also carried signs reading, “Who voted for Elon Musk? No one voted for Elon Musk.”
Donna Powell, a retired resident of the area, said this was her 20th protest against the Trump administration and Musk’s role.
“Tesla stock has been going down and we want to see that continue and we want to see Musk hurt,” Powell said. “We also hope that Congress will grow a spine and do what they’re elected to do.”
The protests come at a time when Tesla’s stock and sales figures are already showing signs of strain.
The company has reported a 27.6% drop in share value for February, contributing to a $52 billion loss in Musk’s net worth. Despite once being valued at over $400 billion, his fortune has since taken a hit.
Tesla’s global sales declined by 1.1% in 2024, marking the company’s first annual drop in over a decade.
Additionally, the company saw a 16% decrease in sales from December to January, following a more drastic 24% drop in the same period a year prior.
Jessica Caldwell, an analyst from automotive research firm Edmunds, noted that while Tesla’s struggles are evident, it’s uncertain whether the Tesla Takedown movement will significantly impact the company’s sales.
“There hasn’t been a bump in Tesla owners appraising their used cars,” Caldwell observed. She explained that some hesitation in selling could stem from high interest rates on new vehicles and Tesla’s decreasing resale value.
Caldwell also suggested that Musk’s deep involvement in government affairs may be damaging Tesla’s brand.
“When you look at the other car companies, most people couldn’t name another automotive CEO and much less their opinion on politics,” she said.
While Tesla has faced increased competition from automakers like General Motors, Ford, and Volkswagen, some critics argue that the company’s struggles are also due to a lack of innovation in its vehicle lineup.
With the protests gaining momentum, the long-term effects of the Tesla Takedown movement remain uncertain. However, the pushback against Musk’s government involvement appears far from over.
