Numerous Tesla Facilities and Vehicles Targeted by Vandals
The vandalism of Tesla facilities and cars is growing into a major issue in the US. This trend has spiked considerably since President Trump’s appointment of Elon Musk to advise the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE).
Through DOGE, Musk aims to decrease the bloat in US federal government bureaucracy. These efforts have drawn considerable disdain from critics, perhaps prompting the recent trend of vandalism toward Musk’s Tesla brand.
Forbes reports the damaging of five vehicles in Las Vegas in a coordinated attack on a Tesla facility on Tuesday. Vandals painted the word “RESIST” on the windows.
Several Tesla facilities and vehicles have been damaged through gunfire, spray painted messages, keying, arson, pouring of liquid latex, and molotov cocktails, among other methods of vandalism.
Several other standalone instances of vandalism have occurred with Tesla vehicles.
Another facility in Illinois had its windows spray painted last Friday. A dealership was similarly targeted in Encinitas, CA where vandals broke some of the building’s windows and painted swastikas and Nazi references on them.
According to the New York Times, an “unknown attacker fired more than a dozen shots at a Tesla dealership in Tigard, Ore., last week, damaging some of the vehicles and store windows.”
On Tuesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi called the attacks instances of “domestic terrorism.” Bondi declared the Department of Defense’s plan of action toward Tesla vandalism.
“The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism. The Department of Justice has already charged several perpetrators with that in mind, including in cases that involve charges with five-year mandatory minimum sentences. We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes.”
