President Donald Trump weighed in on recent vandalization and attacks against Tesla showrooms, charging stations and vehicles across the U.S.

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Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

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Trump says Tesla attacks could be considered domestic terrorism

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Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Jack Henry (Video Editor)

Tesla showrooms, charging stations and vehicles have been vandalized and set on fire across multiple states. President Donald Trump stated he may classify these acts as domestic terrorism.
Authorities have made arrests in connection to some Tesla attacks, including individuals accused of arson and using explosives against dealerships.
Tesla stock continues to decline, experiencing its longest losing streak since 2010. Its market value has lost $800 billion since mid-December 2024.

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President Donald Trump weighed in on the recent vandalization and attacks against Tesla showrooms, charging stations and vehicles across the U.S. in recent weeks. The president said he may designate those responsible as domestic terrorists.

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“I will do that. I’ll do it. I’m going to stop them. We catch anyone doing it, they’re harming a great American company. You know, I’ve stood up for the NFL, I’ve stood up for a lot of American companies. You do it to Tesla, you do it to any company, we’re gonna catch you, and you’re gonna go through hell.”
President Donald Trump

Trump stands with Musk amid Tesla’s struggles

On Tuesday, March 11, Trump stood alongside CEO Elon Musk in front of a lineup of Tesla vehicles at the White House. During the event, Trump purchased a vehicle from Musk as a public display of support for the electric vehicle company, which has seen its stock drop 48% this year.

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Musk has been advising Trump on scaling back government operations through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). It’s an initiative that has led to widespread layoffs across federal agencies.

The job cuts have sparked protests outside Musk’s facilities, with some demonstrations escalating into vandalism and arson.

Recent attacks on Tesla locations

Several high-profile incidents of vandalism and destruction at Tesla locations have been reported:

Massachusetts: Multiple Cybertrucks were spray-painted, and their tires were slashed overnight on Tuesday, March 11, according to Dedham Police Department.
Seattle: Four Tesla electric vehicles were set on fire Sunday night, March 9, according to the Seattle Fire Department.
South Carolina: A Tesla charging station was defaced with spray paint and attacked with Molotov cocktails on Friday, March 7, according to the North Charleston Police Department.

These are just a few of the most recent attacks, however, reports of vandalism against Musk’s company are widespread nationwide.

Arrests made in connection to some attacks

Authorities began making arrests in connection to these incidents.

In Portland, police said surveillance footage captured a suspect throwing Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership, igniting fires. In a separate incident, the same suspect allegedly fired multiple rounds into the dealership, according to a report from KPTV FOX 12.

Another arrest occurred in Colorado late February. According to local CBS affiliate KKTV, authorities accused the suspect of spray-painting vehicles and signage before throwing explosives at multiple cars.

Trump Administration calls attacks domestic terrorism

When asked whether those responsible could actually face domestic terrorism charges, Trump spokesperson Harrison Fields told The Hill:

“The ongoing and heinous acts of violence against Tesla by radical leftist activists are nothing short of domestic terror. President Trump has been clear: These attacks, or any other attack intended to intimidate or coerce our government or its people, will not stand in President Trump’s America.”
Harrison Fields, Trump Administration Spokesperson

Following Trump’s purchase at the White House, Musk posted on X.

“In support of the policies of President Donald Trump and to demonstrate our confidence in the future of the United States, Tesla commits to doubling vehicle production in the U.S. within two years!” Musk wrote.

Tesla’s financial struggles continue

Tesla stock remains in decline. The company suffered seven consecutive weeks of losses, marking its longest losing streak since going public on the Nasdaq in 2010.

Since mid-December, the company’s market capitalization has dropped by $800 billion.

Tags: Cybertruck, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Tesla

[KARAH RUCKER]

TESLA SHOWROOMS – CHARGING STATIONS – AND TESLA CARS IN MULTIPLE STATES HAVE BEEN VANDALIZED OR SET ABLAZE –

AND NOW PRESIDENT TRUMP IS WEIGHING IN – SAYING HE MAY DESIGNATE THE PERPETRATORS AS DOMESTIC TERRORISTS.

“Some say they should be labeled domestic terrorists –”

“I will do that. I’ll do it. I’m going to stop them. We catch anyone doing it, they’re harming a great american company. You know, i’ve stood up for the nfl, I’ve stood up for a lot of american companies.”

“You do it to tesla, you do it to any company, we’re gonna catch you and you’re gonna go through hell.”

ON TUESDAY – THE PRESIDENT STOOD WITH ELON MUSK IN FRONT OF A ROW OF TESLA VEHICLES AT THE WHITE HOUSE – WHERE TRUMP BOUGHT A TESLA FROM THE CEO IN A SHOW OF SUPPORT DURING A TUMULTOUS TIME FOR THE E-V COMPANY – WITH STOCKS DOWN 48 PERCENT THIS YEAR.

MUSK HAS BEEN ADVISING TRUMP ON WAYS THE GOVERNMENT CAN SCALE BACK IN HIS PROACTIVE ROLE OVER DOGE – MUSK ADVISING AGENCIES TO MAKE SOMETIMES DEEP CUTS INCLUDING HUNDREDS OF GOVERNMENT JOB LAYOFFS.

THIS HAS LED TO PROTESTS OUTSIDE OF SOME TESLA FACILITIES.

IN SOME CASES – PROTESTS HAVE CROSSED THE LEGAL BOUNDARY.

WITH REPORTS OF VANDALISM AND ARSON AT TESLA SHOWROOMS AND CHARGING STATIONS.

SOME OF THE MORE RECENT INCIDENTS –

IN MASSACHUSETTS – REPORTS OF SEVERAL TESLA CYBERTRUCKS SPRAYPAINTED AND TIRES SLASHED OVERNIGHT TUESDAY.

AND OVERNIGHT SUNDAY IN SEATTLE – FOUR E-V’S WERE SET ON FIRE.

ON FRIDAY – A TESLA CHARGING STATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA WAS SPRAYPAINTED AND HIT WITH MOLOTOV COCKTAILS.

SOME ARRESTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE –

LIKE ONE MAN IN PORTLAND – AS TOLD BY KPTV FOX 12 REPORTER LESLIE DOMINIQUE.

“Police say surveillance images from the dealership show adam mathew lansky throwing molotov cocktails at the dealership sparking fires. In a separate incident, police allege lansky fired several rounds into the dealership.”

AND ANOTHER HIGH PROFILE ARREST COMING FROM COLORADO –

LATE LAST MONTH AN INDIVIDUAL ARRESTED AFTER BEING CAUGHT AT A TESLA DEALERSHIP – AS TOLD BY LOCAL CBS AFFILIATE KKTV IN COLORADO SPRINGS.

“They accuse nelson of not only spraypainting cars and signs but throwing cocktails at several vehicles.”

THESE INCIDENTS OF TESLA PROPERTIES SPRAY PAINTED, SHOT AT, AND SET ON FIRE ARE AMONG DOZENS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

A TRUMP SPOKESPERSON WAS ASKED TO CLARIFY TRUMP’S REMARKS –

WHETHER THE CULPRITS REALLY COULD FACE DOMESTIC TERRORISM CHARGES.

HARRISON FIELDS TOLD THE HILL “The ongoing and heinous acts of violence against Tesla by radical Leftist activists are nothing short of domestic terror. President Trump has been clear, these attacks, or any other attack to intimidate or coerce our government or its people will not stand in President Trump’s America.”

FOLLOWING TRUMP’S PURCHASE OF A TESLA AT THE WHITE HOUSE –

ELON MUSK RESPONDED “In support of the policies of President Donald Trump and to demonstrate our confidence in the future of the United States, Tesla commits to doubling vehicle production in the US within 2 years!

FOR NOW – TESLA STOCKS CONTINUE TO SEE A DOWNWARD TREND.

TESLA HAS FINISHED 7 STRAIGHT WEEKS OF LOSSES – ITS LONGEST LOSING STREAK SINCE DEPUTING ON THE NASDAQ IN 2010.

SINCE MID DECEMBER – TESLA HAS SEEN 800 BILLION DOLLARS IN MARKET CAP WIPED OUT.

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