By admin 
Protests have erupted outside Tesla stores across the United States as part of a growing backlash against Elon Musk and his controversial actions in Washington. Demonstrators gathered on Saturday to voice their opposition to Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla, and his push to reduce government spending in line with President Donald Trump’s policies.
The protests are fueled by a widening discontent in North America and Europe over Musk’s disruptive influence in Washington. Critics of both Trump and Musk aim to discourage people from buying Tesla vehicles, hoping to stigmatize the company. These protests are being organized by liberal groups who want to rally opposition to Musk’s role in the government’s efforts to cut federal spending, which they argue undermines democratic processes.
“We can get back at Elon,” said Nathan Phillips, a 58-year-old ecologist from Newton, Massachusetts, who joined the protest in Boston. “We can impose direct economic damage on Tesla by showing up at showrooms everywhere, boycotting Tesla, and encouraging others to sell their stocks and Teslas.”
Musk has been following Trump’s direction to slash federal spending and significantly reduce the workforce, believing that their shared victory gave them a mandate to restructure the US government. Under Musk’s leadership, various government departments, including the US Agency for International Development (USAID), have been shut down or severely curtailed, while thousands of federal jobs have been eliminated.
Critics argue that Musk’s actions undermine Congress’s authority over the US budget and benefit him financially. In addition to Tesla, Musk runs other influential companies, such as SpaceX, which conducts NASA and intelligence community launches, and the social media platform X.
Tesla and the White House did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday.
More than 50 protests were listed on the Tesla Takedown website for Saturday, with more planned across the United States in March, as well as in the UK, Spain, and Portugal. Demonstrations have already taken place in several US cities, including Tucson, Arizona; St. Louis; New York City; Dayton, Ohio; Charlotte; and Palo Alto, California.
Some Tesla owners have reported that their vehicles were vandalized, with spray-painted swastikas on them, raising concerns of rising antisemitism. In one case, a woman was charged in connection with a string of vandalism at a Colorado Tesla dealership, which included Molotov cocktails being thrown at vehicles and the words “Nazi cars” sprayed on the building.
The protest in Boston on Saturday had a lively atmosphere, with a brass band playing music and demonstrators carrying signs and chanting. Many signs targeted Musk and his company, with one reading: “Stop Elon and his despicable Muskrats.”
“This government led by Trump and Musk, it’s gone completely off the rails and we are here to stop that,” said Carina Campovasso, a retired federal worker. “And I hope they listen.”
In New York City, around 300 demonstrators gathered outside a Tesla dealership on Saturday. Police reported that nine people were arrested, though they did not provide further details on the charges.
Tesla’s stock has fallen by nearly a third since Trump took office, though it remains higher than it was a year ago. Musk’s current net worth is estimated to be $359 billion, according to Forbes, which calculated his net worth for 2024 at $195 billion.
Gill Bikram Singh