Eliot Bramson '27
The country is about as divided as it has ever been in recent years. When the United States has been divided politically, it is commonplace for people to exercise their First Amendment rights to protest the politicians they feel are responsible for the problems at hand. However, one man and his company have been the subject of mass protests around the country.
Around a week after winning the election, President Donald Trump announced that he would be appointing Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk as one of the heads of the new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Critics of this decision pointed out the fact that Musk has not held any political position before this appointment.
President Trump introduced DOGE to make the US government workforce smaller and therefore more efficient. However, the new organization has received backlash from Democrats who say that DOGE is being used as a political weapon to cut the federal workforce and make it align with the Trump administration’s policies.
Tensions escalated soon after Trump’s inauguration, when Musk made a gesture that appeared to many as a fascist salute. This gesture sparked outrage among Democrats, who quickly labeled Musk and his main company Tesla “Nazis.” The reaction from Republicans was mixed, with some showing signs of concern for what Musk meant by the gesture, others claiming that the accusations of fascism held no ground, while other, more extreme right-wing supporters embraced the gesture.
Protestors soon started to gather outside of Tesla dealerships across the country, calling for nationwide boycotts of the car company and the termination of DOGE. With signs accusing Musk of fascism and of an intent to destroy the country, these protests gained the attention of people around the world.
Tesla itself has felt the impact. According to CNN, Tesla’s company value has decreased by more than 44% since January. Musk’s net worth has also decreased since he took his position in DOGE. According to Bloomberg, Musk has lost over $134 billion this year.
These nationwide protests have gained the attention of politicians as well, including the president. In early March, President Trump said protesters would “go through hell.”
In addition to the president, these protests have caught the attention of the Department of Justice (DOJ) after a man was accused of using Molotov cocktails against a Tesla dealer in late March. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have respectively labeled the action as “domestic terrorism.” Under the new director Patel’s orders, the FBI has launched a task force to “crack down” on vandalism of Tesla dealers.
Patel has faced criticism after being appointed to head the FBI following a narrow 51-49 Senate confirmation vote. Democrats argue that Patel exhibits a stronger sense of loyalty to President Trump than to the country.
Other critics have pointed out the fact that Patel has never held any high-ranking position within the FBI, therefore not giving him the experience necessary to lead the nation’s lead law enforcement agency. Supporters of Patel claim that he will restore accountability to the Bureau.
In a country already divided, the controversies around Elon Musk and DOGE have served to fuel the flames, with Tesla dealerships at the epicenter of the political battle.