US Administration Supports Musk... Encourages Stock Buying and Imprisons Terrorists

Attorney General: "Attacks on Tesla Will Be Considered 'Terrorism'"
Commerce Secretary Urges: "Buy Tesla Stock"
Wall Street Criticism: "Musk Should Step Down"

As Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, and Tesla became targets of anti-Trump forces, the U.S. administration stepped in to defend Tesla.

On the 20th (local time), the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it had indicted three individuals on charges of attempting arson by throwing Molotov cocktails at Tesla and Tesla charging stations.

Anti-Tesla protest. Photo by AP Yonhap News

One of the three defendants was arrested in Oregon after throwing about eight Molotov cocktails at Tesla stores. Another defendant, arrested in Colorado, attempted to set fire to a Tesla vehicle with a Molotov cocktail. The remaining individual is accused of writing defamatory messages against President Trump at a Tesla charging station in South Carolina before throwing a Molotov cocktail.

Attorney General Pam Bondi warned in a press release that day, "If you engage in the domestic terrorism targeting Tesla, the Department of Justice will put you in jail." Bondi stated that attacks on Tesla would be regarded and dealt with as "domestic terrorism."

As Musk, CEO of Tesla, leads aggressive federal government restructuring under the Trump administration, including the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), his company has faced public backlash. In response, the administration has taken steps to support Tesla.

Earlier, on the 11th, President Trump attracted attention by test-driving and purchasing a Tesla vehicle at the White House.

On the 19th, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross appeared on Fox News, criticizing attacks on Tesla vehicles and praising Musk as "the best entrepreneur, the best engineer, and the best leader working for America."

He added, "If you want to learn something from this (news) show tonight, buy Tesla," urging, "I can't believe this person's (Musk's) stock is this cheap. It will never be this cheap again," encouraging the purchase of Tesla shares.

Secretary Ross, who once led the financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald, is a seasoned figure on Wall Street.

The U.S. economic media CNBC pointed out that Ross's remarks might violate conflict of interest rules. Government conflict of interest regulations generally prohibit federal employees, except in some exceptions, from endorsing products, services, or companies by using their government position, title, or authority related to public office.

Meanwhile, criticism has been raised on Wall Street that Musk is not fulfilling his role as Tesla CEO. CNBC noted that Tesla's stock price has fallen more than 50% from its December peak.

Dan Ives, a Wedbush Securities analyst known as a "Tesla superfan" on Wall Street, said, "The clock has struck midnight," adding, "Investor dissatisfaction has exploded, and the more Tesla becomes a political symbol, the worse it is for the brand and the stock." Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki and a well-known early Tesla investor, urged Musk to step down from Tesla management if he does not resign from the Department of Government Efficiency.

On the New York Stock Exchange that day, Tesla's stock closed at $236.26, up 0.17% from the previous day.