Elon Musk, Oligarch Allegations, And The Tesla Arson Attacks. Why The ‘Everyone Hates Elon’ Movement Is Petty, Childish, And Pointless

Like many powerful business figures before him, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is learning that politics is not an easy sword to handle, and in his case, it has turned violent.

Over the past few weeks, Tesla has become a target of coordinated attacks across the U.S., with arson, gunfire, vandalism, and large-scale protests shaking the company’s public image. Just last weekend, four Tesla Cybertrucks were torched in Seattle. In Boston, seven Tesla charging stations were deliberately set on fire. In Oregon, a Tesla dealership came under gunfire. Chicago, Denver, and Kansas City have reported similar incidents.

The anti-Tesla movement is not limited to property damage. Protests outside Tesla showrooms have grown in scale, with demonstrators chanting, “Nobody voted for Elon Musk” and “Oligarchs out, democracy in.” In Lower Manhattan, six protesters were arrested outside a Tesla showroom. Meanwhile, a woman in Colorado was charged with throwing Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership while spray-painting “Nazi” on its walls.

Tesla owners are feeling the heat too. Many are trying to sell their vehicles, not just in protest but out of fear. However, the resale market has turned against them.

Since Musk took charge of the controversial DOGE or Department of Government Efficiency under the Trump administration, prices for used Teslas have plummeted. The brand’s once-loyal fanbase now seems divided, with some distancing themselves from Musk’s growing political influence.

The backlash has sparked a national debate. Attorney General Pam Bondi has condemned the attacks, calling them “nothing short of domestic terrorism.” She warned that those responsible would face harsh penalties, with some already being charged under federal laws that carry mandatory five-year sentences.

President Trump has echoed these concerns, stating that vandalism against Tesla should be classified as domestic terrorism. The Justice Department has launched multiple investigations, vowing to crack down on those involved, including anyone suspected of funding or coordinating the attacks.

Tesla’s stock price, already in decline, has taken another hit- down nearly 48% this year. Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs linked the turmoil directly to Musk’s role at DOGE, stating, “It has been a distraction for the company and a problem for the brand.”

For his part, Musk remains defiant. Taking to X, he questioned why the attacks on Tesla have escalated so dramatically, stating:

“My companies make great products that people love, and I’ve never physically hurt anyone—so why the hate and violence against me?”

In true Musk fashion, he answered his own question:

“Because I am a deadly threat to the woke mind parasite and the humans it controls.”

The New Hate for Elon Musk, How Unfounded and Absurd?

If Musk cares at all, he must see the irony in his predicament. Once seen as the visionary who brought electric vehicles into the mainstream, making Tesla a symbol of green innovation, he now finds himself vilified, not for his products, but for his political stance.

While there is no direct evidence linking the recent attacks – burning, defacing, and even attempted bombings of Teslas – to left-wing agitators, it doesn’t take a giant leap to infer that Musk’s critics likely don’t share his views. The protests and vandalism have all occurred in deep-blue states like New York, Massachusetts, Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington.

North of the border, Musk’s unpopularity is also rising. In Canada, reactions to U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about annexing the country have somehow translated into a backlash against Musk. A Toronto Star poll found that 71% of Canadians support banning Tesla, and thousands have even signed a petition demanding Musk’s Canadian citizenship be revoked.

Meanwhile, critics argue that Musk has no business tackling government inefficiencies since he’s neither an elected official nor a bureaucrat. But ask any responsible taxpayer, who wouldn’t want waste, fraud, and mismanagement exposed?

Disagreeing with Musk’s methods is one thing, but the broader goal of cutting government waste should be a bipartisan win. Yet, in today’s hyper-politicized climate, even initiatives like DOGE have become controversial, simply because Musk is behind them.

Protesters or Petty Vandals?

In a public display of support, Trump recently staged a symbolic “purchase” of a new Tesla at the White House further cementing Musk’s role as a key figure in his administration’s agenda.

But here’s the real issue –  objections to Musk have now escalated into acts of violence. The people attacking Teslas aren’t making a political statement, they seem to be throwing tantrums, no different from children breaking toys in a fit of rage.

And those who are dumping their Teslas in protest? It’s virtue signaling at its most hypocritical. If they truly believed in sustainability, why waste an electric vehicle over politics?

At the end of the day, Americans voted to give Trump a mandate. Like it or not, Musk is part of that equation. If his critics want to challenge him, they should do so at the ballot box, not with Molotov cocktails and spray paint. Acts of vandalism don’t strengthen a political argument; they undermine it.

A recent Pew Research Center study reveals that public sentiment towards Musk and fellow tech titan Mark Zuckerberg is overwhelmingly negative, so perhaps its the “billionaire” thing!

—Mark Zuckerberg (Meta/Facebook): 67% of Americans view him unfavorably, with left-leaning respondents expressing even stronger disapproval (76%).

–Elon Musk (Tesla/X/DOGE): 54% of Americans have a negative perception of him. However, opinions are sharply divided along partisan lines—73% of conservatives support him, while 85% of liberals disapprove.

Australians Dislike Musk Even More

In Australia, Musk’s reputation has taken an even bigger hit. A staggering 59% of Australians hold an unfavorable view of him, making him the most disliked tech figure in the country. Zuckerberg follows closely behind at 54%.

According to analyst Peter Talbot:

“We’ll have to wait and see whether these negative views impact consumer behavior, but such strong sentiment suggests potential brand damage for Musk’s businesses in Australia.”

The irony is that while Musk and Trump’s campaigns position them as symbols of an anti-establishment movement on the rise, global sentiment suggests that the backlash against them is just as strong.

Meet ‘Everyone Hates Elon’. The U.K. Collective Trying to Take Down Musk

Last week, a London bus stop featured a viral poster of Elon Musk in a Tesla, captioned – “Goes from 0 to 1939 in 3 seconds.” Below, it read: “The Swasticar.” A TikTok of its installation has since amassed over 10 million views.

The group behind it, Everyone Hates Elon (EHE), is a small U.K.-based collective determined to “piss off Musk one small action at a time.” Formed in January, their frustration boiled over after Musk supported far-right figure Tommy Robinson and made inflammatory, unsubstantiated claims about U.K. politics, accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer of complicity in grooming gangs and calling a minister a “genocide rape apologist.”

EHE argues that Musk, despite his immense wealth, has no right to dictate British politics. His recent endorsements of far-right parties in the U.K. and Germany only fueled their mission. The tipping point was when Musk appeared to make a Nazi salute at Trump’s inauguration.

Their campaign has since gained traction, with millions of social media interactions and even an endorsement from Stephen King. Their People Versus Elon fundraiser, where supporters donate small sums every time Musk tweets, is set to raise £150,000 ($190,000) by next year. Funds go to causes Musk “hates,” including trans rights, migrant support, and anti-fascism efforts.

EHE sums up their movement as a grassroots rebellion against billionaire influence – 

“There’s something powerful about small acts funded by small donations taking on the world’s richest man. People won’t stand for his fascism and nonsense.”

The Last Bit. The ‘Everyone Hates Elon’ Movement Is Petty, Childish, and Pointless

Elon Musk may be a polarizing figure, but the growing disdain for Musk is taking things to an absurdly juvenile level. Campaign, which involves petty stunts like plastering bus stops with Nazi-themed Tesla posters and crowdfunding to “piss off” Musk, and even burning down of Tesla cars is less about meaningful activism and more about attention-seeking theatrics.

Let’s be clear, Musk is far from perfect. He’s brash, opinionated, and often reckless with his words. But does that justify a movement dedicated to hate him?

Instead of offering substantive criticism of Musk’s influence or business practices, and the claim that Musk is somehow single-handedly ruining democracy ignores the bigger picture.

Billionaires influencing politics is nothing new, where is their outrage against Bezos, Gates, or Soros?

Musk, for all his faults, has also built revolutionary companies, created thousands of jobs, and pushed innovation in space travel, AI, and electric vehicles. But instead of acknowledging the complexities of his impact, many resort to name-calling and poorly thought-out protest gimmicks.

At the end of the day, these movements signal performative outrage, feeding social media algorithms, and giving people an easy way to feel self-righteous without actually accomplishing anything and if the goal was to hold Musk accountable for his missteps, they have failed spectacularly!