Anti-Musk protests spread beyond the US

Protests in front of Tesla dealerships, owned by Mr. Musk, have shown signs of spreading, even appearing in neighboring Canada.

Protest against billionaire Musk outside Tesla dealership in Washington on March 22 – Photo: REUTERS

According to Reuters, about 100 people waved signs and danced to protest billionaire Elon Musk outside a Tesla dealership in Washington, DC on March 22.

They expressed anger at Mr. Musk, the CEO of the electric car maker, and a cog in the Donald Trump administration’s efforts to cut hundreds of thousands of federal employees.

Cars driving past the protest honked their horns in solidarity with the protesters.

US President Trump has appointed Mr. Musk as an adviser, overseeing the activities of the Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has so far pushed to cut more than 100,000 federal employees. DOGE also contributed to the freeze on foreign aid.

Protesters also appeared in other US cities, including Los Angeles. It’s even spreading overseas, like in Toronto, where some Canadians have vowed not to buy American products after the Trump administration increased tariffs on Canadian goods.

The consequences of the anti-Musk backlash are already being felt. In the weeks since the protests began, Tesla owners have decided to ditch the company by selling their cars.

Tesla sales hit a record high in March, according to Reuters. Some have gone even further, setting fire to Tesla vehicles to express their anger.

Tesla shares have also fallen by nearly half from their peak in January.

Shares have surged since Trump won the November 2024 election, with many investors hoping Tesla will have an easier time deploying robot taxis under a new administration.

This week, the Trump administration said Musk protesters targeted several Tesla dealerships and charging stations. There were no reports of violence at the March 22 protest in Washington.

According to Axios, President Trump has expressed strong support for Mr. Musk and threatened to send anti-Tesla protesters to a notorious prison in El Salvador if convicted.

Days after promising to designate vandals who targeted Tesla vehicles and facilities as domestic terrorists, the Trump administration’s Justice Department on March 20 indicted three people for using Molotov cocktails to burn down Tesla cars and showrooms.