Protests against Elon Musk and his role in the Trump administration erupted in over 200 locations across the world on Saturday as part of the “Tesla Takedown” movement. Demonstrators condemned Musk’s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has aggressively slashed government programs and laid off thousands of federal employees.
The protests began in Australia and New Zealand, then spread across Europe—including the UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands—before reaching North America. Demonstrations were held in nearly every U.S. state, with major turnouts in Washington, DC, Boston, Arlington, Rockville, Austin, and Chicago. Organizers urged Tesla owners to sell their cars and stock as a way to financially weaken Musk and push back against his influence over federal policy.
“Elon Musk is destroying our democracy, and he’s using the fortune he built at Tesla to do it,” organizers wrote on Action Network, which provided an interactive protest map. “We are taking action at Tesla to stop Musk’s illegal coup.”
Since Musk became head of DOGE, the department has implemented sweeping budget cuts, deregulation efforts, and layoffs across the federal government. Protesters say these policies have devastated public services, slashed medical research funding, and threatened the country’s economic stability.
Live at the Downtown Chicago Tesla dealership. Great energy from the crowd and big turnout. CPD presence but honestly not as much as I was expecting. Lots of cars honking as they drive by in support. Teslas getting booed by the crowd. pic.twitter.com/nThyno7Q1z
— Valkryie Press (@Valkyrie_Press) March 29, 2025
Some of DOGE’s most controversial actions include:
• Attempting to shut down the United States Institute of Peace, an independent government agency focused on conflict prevention.
• Proposing a 20% reduction in IRS staff by May 15, which critics argue would undermine tax enforcement and benefit the wealthy.
• Eliminating the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy, which led to cuts in global HIV treatment programs.
At a protest outside a Tesla showroom in Arlington, Virginia, former Health Services and Resources Administration employee Todd Post spoke about his recent layoff.
“Now there are women in foreign countries not getting HIV treatment,” Post said, holding an American flag. “This administration really has blood on its hands because it’s caused people to get life-ending diseases as a result of their arbitrary cuts. How is that efficient?”
The crew in DC telling Musk: We're not gonna take it! #TeslaTakedown pic.twitter.com/wBRPuzwg6x
— Our Revolution (@OurRevolution) March 29, 2025
Demonstrators carried signs condemning Musk’s policies while calling for greater protections for government workers and social programs. Some expressed fears that Musk’s actions were pushing the U.S. toward authoritarian rule.
• Louise Cobbett-Witten, protesting outside a Tesla dealership in London, told The Guardian, “It’s too overwhelming to do nothing. There is real solace in coming together like this.”
• Alainn Hanson, attending a protest in Washington, DC, said, “I’m sick of billionaires trampling over working-class people.”
• James Decherd, a DC protester, told CNN, “I’m just afraid for what kind of country this is going to be after these cuts. The whole country is at risk of becoming a dystopian hellscape.”
• Melanie Aron, whose nephew researches Alzheimer’s disease at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), said his funding was slashed by DOGE. “Those studies benefit American people. When we cut those off, people are going to suffer.”
Demonstrators also voiced concerns about the Trump administration’s freeze on foreign aid and how it affects communities outside the U.S. Laura Plaia, a former employee at the U.S. Department of State, joined the Arlington protest, stating:
“Our work benefits all the countries in Africa. Trump is running the country like a company. It’s been gut-wrenching for so many people. Lives have been turned upside down.”
The Tesla Takedown movement aims to weaken Musk’s influence by targeting Tesla’s financial standing. Organizers called for people to sell their Teslas and dump Tesla stock, arguing that Musk’s vast wealth—much of which is tied to Tesla—funds his government actions.
“There’s a very serious and strategic component in what we’re doing,” said Melissa Knutson, a co-organizer of the Washington, DC protest. “This is a way to say we’re not afraid.”
At a Tesla dealership in Rockville, Maryland, over 750 protesters showed up, according to posts on Bluesky. In Boston, organizers told CNN that hundreds had arrived despite the rain.
A Bluesky user who attended the protest in Chicago wrote, “I am proud of myself. Today I participated in my first protest against the Musk-Trump regime.”
The protests come amid a wave of attacks on Tesla properties, including arson and vandalism.
Authorities reported that Paul Kim, 36, was arrested in Las Vegas last week after he allegedly sprayed the word “RESIST” in pink paint across a Tesla facility, shot at multiple vehicles, and set them on fire using a Molotov cocktail.
Other acts of Tesla-related vandalism have been reported in at least nine states, including graffiti, damaged charging stations, and attacks on individual Tesla owners’ vehicles.
In response, the FBI launched a task force to investigate anti-Tesla incidents. FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi labeled these actions “domestic terrorism” and vowed to crack down on the attacks.
Over the weekend, the FBI warned the public to look out for “individuals surveilling or trying to break into Tesla properties” or making threats against the company online.
While most demonstrations were peaceful, some protests saw violent confrontations. In Palm Beach County, Florida, a black SUV jumped the curb and accelerated toward demonstrators outside a Tesla dealership. No one was injured, but police arrested the driver, who later entered the showroom and declared his support for Musk.
In a March 21 meeting with Tesla employees, Musk addressed the growing backlash and Tesla’s financial struggles.
“There are times when there are ‘rocky’ moments,” he said. “What I’m saying is: Hang on to your stock.”
Tesla’s stock has plummeted 45% since December 17, reflecting investor concerns over Musk’s political alignment.
In an interview on Fox News, Musk denied that his government role benefits him:
“It’s actually disadvantageous for me to be in the government, not advantageous,” Musk said. “My companies are suffering because I’m in the government.”
Musk also blamed the protests for Tesla’s declining revenue, saying, “Do you think it helps sales if Tesla dealerships are gonna be fire-bombed? Of course not.”
Organizers say this is only the beginning. More protests are planned throughout the spring and summer, with calls for:
• Ongoing Tesla boycotts to weaken Musk’s financial power.
• More direct action at Tesla facilities to increase pressure.
• Congressional investigations into DOGE’s budget cuts and Musk’s role in dismantling government programs.
“They can pretend they can do whatever they want,” said Sara Steffens, a co-organizer in DC. “They can pretend they can like bullies do, but they can’t have power unless we let them.”
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