Backlash Against Musk's Political Moves... Molotov Cocktail and Rifle Attack on Tesla Store

Resentment Toward Elon Musk Escalates Into Violence
Tesla Stores and Vehicles Targeted Following Musk's Political Involvement

There is growing resentment against Elon Musk, who wields significant influence in the Donald Trump administration, spreading into violent incidents in the physical world.

Citizens protesting against Musk in front of the Tesla store in California, USA. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News.

According to the Washington Post (WP) on the 8th (local time), at least 12 violent acts have occurred at Tesla-related facilities, where Musk serves as CEO, since President Trump took office on January 20. Tesla electric vehicles, stores, and charging stations have been targeted.

A woman named Lucy Grace Nelson visited the Tesla store in Loveland, Colorado, multiple times over 13 days starting January 29, deliberately damaging property. She reportedly threw four Molotov cocktails made from liquor bottles at electric cars parked around the store and watched as the cars burned. She also spray-painted graffiti on the store's entrance sign reading "Nazi" and on the door saying "Screw you, Musk."

In February, a man named Adam Matthew Lansky fired a semi-automatic rifle at a Tesla store in Salem, Oregon. A few weeks prior, he had also thrown Molotov cocktails at the same store.

Earlier this month, seven Tesla chargers in a shopping center in Littleton, Massachusetts, were burned in a fire suspected to be arson. In Maryland, graffiti opposing Musk was found painted on the wall of a Tesla building.

These incidents occurred after Musk went to the White House as head of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in its second term. Analysts interpret this as reflecting strong opposition to Musk's political moves.

Last year, Musk donated at least $288 million (approximately 417.5 billion KRW) to help elect President Trump. Since then, Musk has entered the government and is leading large-scale federal employee layoffs with the goal of reducing government spending. He has also continued provocative actions, such as making hand gestures reminiscent of Nazi salutes and supporting far-right European parties.

The previous image of Musk, who generally kept a distance from politics while seeking a "sustainable future" at Tesla and focusing on rocket launches at his space company SpaceX, has disappeared. As a result, Tesla's stock price has been declining for seven consecutive weeks.

Despite these disturbances, forecasts suggest that Musk's pro-Trump actions will continue.

Dan Ives, a technology analyst at Wedbush Securities, said that while Musk's relationship with Trump has been a concern for the Tesla brand, it could ultimately be beneficial. If Tesla secures streamlined federal regulations related to autonomous driving through close ties with the Trump administration, it would be the best possible outcome for Tesla.

Meanwhile, facing worsening public opinion, Musk has rapidly emerged as a new star in political advertisements by the opposition Democratic Party.

CNN recently reported that Musk frequently appears in Democratic political campaigns, describing this as a test of whether Musk will become a political burden for the Republican Party. In Democratic ads, Musk is depicted wielding a chainsaw to celebrate significant government spending cuts or as a figure that Republican lawmakers are wary of.