Persistent Demonstrations at Tesla Outlets Over Speculation about Elon Musk Leaving DOGEcoin Market
Tesla Protests Escalate as Musk's Role at Government Efficiency Backlash Continues
Watch out, Tesla! Protests are heating up this weekend as citizens take a stand against CEO Elon Musk's role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Last week alone, over 200 demonstrations took place at Tesla locations, sparking the widespread "Tesla Takedown" movement.
This weekend, protests are planned at more than 60 Tesla showrooms across the US, with over a dozen extra protests scheduled for Sunday. Some locations are even hosting double protests, as part of the nationwide "Hands Off!" day of mass protests.
The Tesla Takedown campaign encourages Tesla owners to sell their vehicles and DOGE shareholders to dump their stock to hit Musk where it hurts - his net worth, which is primarily tied to Tesla. On Saturday, around 50 demonstrators gathered outside a Tesla showroom in Rockville, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, DC.
Susan Barnett, a media professional from NYC, joined the Rockville protests for a cause closer to home. "We need safe water and foreign government assistance," she said to CNN. "Congress has to remember that despite what the White House is saying, we do have a stake in the world."
But Musk has denied that these protests are genuine, tweeting last week, "Who's funding and organizing all these paid protests?" He also claims DOGE has saved taxpayers $140 billion, although CNN couldn't confirm the accuracy of the figure.
Tesla has yet to respond to CNN's request for comment. Protester Madeline Gupta, holding a sign reading "Democracy over oligarchy," told CNN she's not being paid. "This new administration, including Musk, who wasn't even elected, is trying to destroy our democracy, and we cannot let that happen."
Despite pushback from Musk and the Trump administration, Tesla Takedown organizers believe the campaign will keep growing. They tweeted to CNN, "Blaming 'paid protestors' is a deflection from admitting how unpopular Musk and DOGE have become."
Tesla's stock prices have plummeted, with shares closing at $239.43 on Friday, a 50% drop from their December peak. This decline followed Tesla's announcement that sales took a massive 13% dip in the first quarter of 2025 - the biggest drop in the company's history. The company delivered 336,681 cars, 50,000 fewer than the same period last year.
Hints of Musk's Exit from DOGE
Musk, the world's richest man and boss of Tesla, SpaceX, and social media platform X, was initially handpicked by Trump to lead DOGE alongside billionaire biotech mogul Vivek Ramaswamy. Ramaswamy's tenure was short-lived, and Musk's role as DOGE's ambassador may not last much longer than initially planned.
Trump hinted to reporters on Monday that Musk would likely leave his DOGE post sooner than anticipated. Musk responded on X that such claims were "fake news." The administration confirmed that Musk's stint as Trump's hatchet man is due to end in late May or June, when his 130 days as a "special government employee" concludes.
Musk admitted to Tesla staff in Austin, Texas, on March 20 that he's feeling the strain of juggling numerous roles. He also mentioned that the backlash is affecting not only him but his electric car company as well.
In an interview with Fox News, Musk addressed the criticism and vandalism against Tesla locations. He said, "It's actually disadvantageous for me to be in the government, not advantageous. My companies are suffering because I'm in the government."
Peaceful demonstrations have been the norm during Tesla protests, although there have been separate reports of vandalism at various Tesla locations. If Musk does leave DOGE, he may return to the private sector to focus on his businesses while wiping his hands clean of the Administration's economic policies.
- Despite the denial from Elon Musk about the authenticity of the protests, the Tesla Takedown organizers believe the campaign will continue to grow, as they suggested in a tweet, "Blaming 'paid protestors' is a deflection from admitting how unpopular Musk and DOGE have become."
- The pushback against Musk and his involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reportedly affected Tesla's business, with the company's stock prices plummeting and sales taking a massive 13% dip in the first quarter of 2025 - the biggest drop in the company's history.
- As the protests against Musk's role in DOGE continue, it is probable that the drop in Tesla's stock prices and sales may lead to a significant drop in Musk's wealth, since his net worth is primarily tied to the performance of his businesses, such as Tesla.
