From Smiles to Flames: The Rising Aggression Against Teslas and Elon Musk
- Authored by: Ravinder Dosanjh
- Estimated Reading Time: Approx. 4 Minutes
- Tempers flare against Musk and Tesla vehicles: Public discontent boils over, targeting the automobiles
For years, a Tesla was a car of distinction - one that owners sported with pride and that others admired from the roads. This was the case until Elon Musk morphed into a polarizing figure - most notably, an ardent supporter of Donald Trump and the agenda to shift the US further right.
What was once admiration has turned into animosity for Musk, transforming into a sinister bogeyman for some and a symbol of a societal change that needs halting, even by force, for others. Tesla showrooms across the US have become targets of violence, leaving some Tesla owners apprehensive about their safety.
The Arsonists' Calling
Since the election of President Trump, nearly a dozen attacks on Tesla vehicles and locations have occurred in the US. Graffiti, vandalism, and arson cases have been reported in cities like Seattle, Kansas City, and Las Vegas. Investigations point towards arson in some instances, with evidence of gunfire and defaced vehicles as well.
The Department of Justice is taking firm action against this rampant violence. Three individuals are expected to face charges in Colorado, Oregon, and South Carolina, according to attorney general Pamela Bondi. A woman is accused of launching Molotov cocktails at Tesla dealerships, damaging vehicles and spraying protest graffiti. Two men are said to have set Teslas ablaze, also shooting at the cars and defacing them with graffiti. These offenders face prison sentences of between five to 20 years, with the charges carrying the label of "domestic terrorism."
A Storm of Fear for Tesla Owners
Private Tesla owners fear that the tide of hostility could soon turn against them. Law enforcement officials predict that there's a high probability of injuries in the protests, as reported by the "Washington Post." A now-deleted website was circulating the personal data of Tesla owners, including their names and addresses, under the call to vandalize cars. The site pledged to remove owner's information if they could prove that they've sold their vehicle.
Many Tesla owners are abandoning their cars in protest against Musk, due to safety concerns, or for other reasons. According to the U.S. news site "Newsweek," Tesla vehicles from the 2017 model year onwards accounted for 1.4 percent of all trade-ins at dealerships this year, up from 0.4 percent in March of last year. The fear of no longer feeling secure in their vehicles could further accelerate the sell-off.
Musk's Narrative - A Battle for Power and Corruption
Elon Musk believes the attacks on Tesla vehicles stem from the Democrats. In an interview with Fox News, Musk claimed the corruption in the government is what angered his opponents so much, leading them to target both him and his company. Musk also stated that the level of violence and hate from the left was "shocking" to him.
Teslas are becoming focal points of violence in Europe as well. In Berlin, a spate of Tesla fires erupted in less than half an hour, with the state protection department taking over the investigation. In Dresden, two Tesla electric vehicles were set on fire in February, and in Toulouse, several Tesla vehicles were torched in a dealership.
Sources:
- Forbes
- NBC News
- Newsweek
- Fox News
- Washington Post
- U.S. Department of Justice
- Tesla
- Elon Musk
- Donald Trump
- Vandalism
- Arson
- The vandalism and arson incidents directed at Tesla vehicles and showrooms across the US, extending to Europe, have been factually linked to extremism, with some branding Elon Musk, Tesla's founder, as a symbol of societal change that needs halting.
- Amidst the escalating violence, the bogeyman narrative surrounding Musk and Tesla has grown, with some viewing him as a bogeyman and others accusing him of supporting Donald Trump and the US shift towards the right, stirring up further conflict.
- As the Department of Justice cracks down on domestic terrorism cases involving Tesla vandalism and arson, Elon Musk contends that the attacks stem from corruption in the government, positioning himself in a battle of power and corruption.
