The FBI has launched a dedicated task force to investigate a surge of attacks targeting Tesla properties, a move that underscores growing concerns about escalating tensions between CEO Elon Musk and his critics.
The task force, operating in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), was announced Monday after authorities discovered multiple incendiary devices at a Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas, the city where the company is headquartered.
“This is domestic terrorism,” FBI Director Kash Patel declared in a post on X, the social media platform owned by Musk. “Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice.” FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino added, “Justice is coming.”
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The latest incident is just one in a string of attacks on Tesla showrooms and vehicles. Law enforcement officials say at least 80 cases of vandalism or arson targeting Tesla have been reported across the United States and Canada, with many linked to growing opposition to Musk’s political leanings and his close ties to the Trump administration.
Musk’s Politics Igniting Tesla Backlash
While Tesla has long been a symbol of the clean energy movement, Musk’s deep dive into far-Right politics has alienated a significant portion of his once-loyal customer base. Many believe that the attacks on Tesla stem largely from Musk’s controversial political stances and his alignment with Donald Trump’s administration, particularly in his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is aggressively slashing federal spending and cutting government jobs.
Under Musk’s leadership, the DOGE initiative has drawn sharp criticism for targeting progressive policies, and laying off workers in a bid to cut costs for the government. This has put Musk at odds with the far-left, which has historically championed EV adoption as a means of reducing carbon emissions.
“Elon Musk is destroying our democracy, and he’s using the fortune he built at Tesla to do it,” reads a statement from Tesla Takedown, an activist group organizing protests against Tesla across the country. The group has announced plans for demonstrations outside nearly 300 Tesla showrooms this weekend.
“The U.S. government has a long history of conflating peaceful protest with violence,” a Tesla Takedown spokesperson told CNBC. “The #TeslaTakedown movement has been and always will be nonviolent. We will not be deterred.”
A Political Shift That’s Costing Tesla
Musk’s rightward political shift has not only alienated Tesla’s environmentally-conscious customer base but has also contributed to the company’s financial woes. Tesla shares closed at $278.39 on Monday, a dramatic drop of more than 40% from the stock’s 52-week high of $488.54, which it reached in mid-December.
The decline reflects investor concerns over Tesla’s long-term prospects, as its traditional allies in the climate-conscious Left move away from the brand. This shift has also played a role in Tesla losing market share to competitors like Rivian and Ford, which continue to attract buyers who prioritize environmental sustainability without the political baggage that now comes with Tesla.
Government Steps In to De-Escalate
The FBI’s decision to launch a Tesla-specific task force suggests that federal authorities see the escalating tensions as a national security concern. While Tesla has not publicly outlined new security measures, the FBI move is expected to shift the conversation away from Musk’s politics and onto law enforcement’s crackdown on the attacks.
Those who served in the Biden administration have remained largely silent on Tesla’s political turmoil, but key figures in the Trump administration have been vocal in their support. Attorney General Pam Bondi has highlighted arrests made in connection with vandalism against Tesla vehicles, while Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick went as far as encouraging investors to “Buy Tesla” stock during a Fox News appearance.
President Trump, meanwhile, has been the most outspoken, suggesting that individuals convicted of attacking Tesla vehicles should be imprisoned in El Salvador.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has also addressed the issue, albeit in his typical brash style. Speaking at a Tesla event last week, he dismissed the concerns, telling employees, “If you read the news, it feels like, you know, Armageddon.” He went on to say that those targeting Tesla vehicles were “psycho” and should “stop being psycho!”
As tensions rise, clashes between Tesla supporters and critics have turned violent. Over the weekend, a man was arrested in West Palm Beach, Florida, after allegedly driving his car toward anti-Tesla protesters outside a showroom.
“The protestors had to move out of the way in order to avoid being struck by the vehicle,” the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. The suspect, identified as Andrew Dutil, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. Authorities noted that his Facebook page contained content supporting Trump.
With nationwide protests planned for the coming weekend, authorities are bracing for further confrontations.
Tesla Becomes A Company at a Crossroads
For years, Tesla enjoyed broad bipartisan support, hailed as a pioneer in clean energy while also appealing to libertarian-leaning tech enthusiasts. But as Musk has increasingly aligned himself with Trump’s political agenda, Tesla’s brand has become more polarizing.
The creation of an FBI task force may help tamp down the immediate threat of attacks on Tesla, but it does little to address the deeper challenge Musk faces: regaining the trust of former supporters who once viewed Tesla as the future of sustainable transportation.