Domestic terrorism charges spark Tesla image crisis
The U.S. Attorney General has charged three people with setting fire to Tesla showrooms and charging stations, accusing them of "domestic terrorism." Protests that escalated into acts of vandalism are a consequence of Elon Musk's controversial role in the Trump administration, reports The Guardian.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced significant charges against three individuals suspected of organized attacks on Tesla showrooms and charging stations. She emphasized that their actions bear the marks of "domestic terrorism," and each of the accused will stand trial, facing penalties of up to 20 years in prison, reports The Guardian.
According to a Department of Justice statement, the perpetrators used Molotov cocktails to set Tesla property on fire in three different states. One of the detainees was apprehended in Oregon after throwing eight firebombs at a Tesla showroom—at the time of arrest, he also had an AR-15 rifle with a silencer.
The second perpetrator operated in Colorado, where he attempted to set Tesla vehicles ablaze, possessing materials to craft additional explosives. The third detainee set fire to a charging station in South Carolina, having previously left graffiti directed against President Trump.
Attorney General Bondi emphasized that "the days of committing crimes without consequence have ended" and declared firm action against similar acts of vandalism. She noted that the attacks are directly related to the activities of Elon Musk, who, after taking over as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is overseeing controversial cuts in employment and budgets within the American administration.
President Donald Trump also addressed the attacks on Truth Social. "People that get caught sabotaging Teslas will stand a very good chance of going to jail for up to twenty years, and that includes the funders. WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOU!!!" wrote the U.S. President.
Musk and Tesla's image crisis
In recent weeks, Musk's actions on behalf of the Trump administration have come under increasing criticism, not only from protesters but also from Tesla investors. Wedbush Managing Director Dan Ives described the impact of Musk's activities as a "crisis" and indicated that the reputational damage to Tesla is spreading globally.
Elon Musk himself refutes the allegations, claiming that both he and Tesla operate peacefully. "Tesla is a peaceful company, we’ve never done anything harmful, I’ve never done anything harmful, I’ve always done productive things," Musk stated in an interview with Fox News.
