Tesla Vandalism Soars As Owners Face Mounting Pressure
Tesla owners across the United States are increasingly finding themselves caught in the crossfire of political polarization, with reports of vehicle vandalism escalating dramatically in recent months. As CEO Elon Musk deepens his involvement with the Trump administration through his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), incidents of spray-painting, keying, arson, and even gunfire targeting Tesla vehicles and dealerships have surged, prompting FBI investigations and raising concerns among the company’s once-loyal customer base.
The vandalism trend has coincided with a significant spike in Tesla trade-ins, which reached record levels this month. According to data cited by Fox Business, Tesla vehicles with model years 2017 or newer represented 1.4% of all vehicle trade-ins during March 2025, compared to just 0.4% during the same period last year—a 250% increase that analysts attribute largely to owners’ concerns about becoming targets rather than dissatisfaction with the vehicles themselves.
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From Celebrity Owners to Public Targets
The political pressure on Tesla owners has reached high-profile individuals, with several public figures announcing their decisions to part with their vehicles. Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona and retired NASA astronaut, recently posted a video explaining his decision to sell his Tesla, stating that he felt like “a rolling billboard for a man dismantling our government and hurting people” every time he drove it.
Similarly, former angel investor Joanne Wilson and her husband, venture capitalist Fred Wilson, have parted ways with one of their two Teslas, with the couple considering a dramatic public destruction of their remaining vehicle. “We are not the only Tesla owners who want to get rid of their cars,” Wilson wrote in a blog post explaining her decision, citing Musk’s “complete disregard for human beings as he attempts to completely disrupt the federal government.”
Ordinary Owners Face Extraordinary Challenges
The impact extends well beyond celebrity owners, with ordinary Tesla drivers increasingly finding themselves subjected to hostility in public spaces. Two Cybertruck owners who participated in a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans reportedly left the event with thousands of dollars in damage after parade attendees threw beer cans and other objects at their vehicles while booing and yelling.
One of these owners, Joshua Hazel, received quotes of $360 to replace shattered glass and $7,000 to repair damage to his vehicle’s custom wrap, according to reports. Despite this experience, Hazel and another affected owner, identified only as Christina G., have reportedly doubled down on their support for the company, with Hazel purchasing additional Tesla shares and Christina ordering a Tesla collectible wind-up Cybertruck.
Musk Expresses Shock at Escalating Situation
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has expressed surprise at the wave of vandalism targeting his company’s products. In a recent interview with Newsweek, Musk stated that he was “shocked” by the incidents, insisting that he and Tesla had “never done anything harmful” and characterizing those responsible for the vandalism as “bad people.”
“It’s really come as quite a shock to me, this violence from the left,” Musk told Sean Hannity in a Fox News interview. “I thought the Democrats were supposed to be the party of empathy, the party of caring, and yet they’re burning down cars, and firing bullets into dealerships.”
Musk suggested that the backlash was connected to his efforts to reduce government fraud through his work with the DOGE, claiming: “It turns out when you take away the money people get fraudulently, they get very upset. They basically want to kill me because I’m stopping their fraud, and they want to hurt Tesla because we are stopping this terrible waste and corruption in the government.”
Political Response Takes Shape
The vandalism has drawn a response from the White House, with President Donald Trump declaring his intention to classify violence against Tesla as terrorism. “I will do that. I’m going to stop them. Because they are harming a great American company. It’s a great product, and we have to celebrate [Musk],” Trump stated.
The president has also made a personal show of support by purchasing a Tesla himself earlier this month, though he acknowledged that Secret Service protocol prevents him from driving it. Trump additionally confirmed purchasing a Cybertruck for his granddaughter, Kai, further solidifying his public alignment with Musk and Tesla.
Financial Impact and Investor Response
While the vandalism and political backlash have coincided with a significant decline in Tesla’s stock value in recent weeks, not all investors are abandoning the company. DataTrek Research co-founder Nicholas Colas told reporters that many investors remember the substantial returns Tesla has generated in the past, which may keep them engaged with the stock even during turbulent periods.
This investor loyalty is being tested, however, as Tesla navigates both the public relations challenges associated with Musk’s political activities and the operational challenges of maintaining growth in an increasingly competitive electric vehicle market. For the company’s employees, customers, and shareholders, the road ahead appears increasingly complex as Tesla’s corporate identity becomes increasingly intertwined with its founder’s controversial political profile.
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