According to law enforcement officials and domestic extremism experts, there is no evidence to suggest that the recent series of attacks on Tesla vehicles and dealerships are coordinated, despite claims made by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump. Vandalism incidents have targeted at least 10 Tesla facilities, including dealerships and charging stations, with reports of cars being set on fire and defaced. Some social media videos show individuals damaging Tesla vehicles, and a website was found to be encouraging such behavior by publishing a map with information on Tesla owners and facilities, though the origin of the site remains unknown.
Elon Musk has condemned the attacks on Tesla properties, stating on social media that they were “coordinated” without providing evidence to support this claim. President Trump has also alleged coordination behind the attacks, accusing politically motivated individuals of funding the vandals during an interview on Fox News. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced charges against three individuals for vandalizing Tesla properties in Oregon, South Carolina, and Washington state, labeling the destruction as domestic terrorism.
Despite these claims, law enforcement agencies such as the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who are investigating the incidents, have not found any evidence of coordination among the attacks. Field offices of these agencies are handling each case individually and collaborating with partner agencies to determine appropriate charges. While federal law enforcement agents are sharing information on the attacks, they have not identified a common link beyond the targeting of Tesla properties.
Experts in violent extremism research emphasize that there is no public evidence connecting the attacks, and suggest that the attention from the Justice Department on this matter is noteworthy. Despite Musk’s role as a federal adviser and significant donor to Trump, recent polls indicate a decline in public favor towards him, particularly in light of his involvement in federal government cutbacks. The negative sentiment towards Musk has grown, even as there is no apparent coordination behind the attacks on Tesla facilities.
A campaign has been organized to encourage people to gather at Tesla facilities to protest against Musk. This group has made it clear that they do not support violence or property damage. Criticism towards Musk and Tesla has been growing online, with instances of vandalizing Tesla cars and Cybertrucks, including spreading dog feces on them, becoming more widespread. Reports from law enforcement have indicated that the vandalism has escalated to include shooting automatic rifles and throwing Molotov cocktails at Tesla stores. The FBI is actively collecting information on these incidents, with a spokesperson mentioning that they are collaborating with various law enforcement agencies to investigate the damage caused to Tesla charging stations and dealerships in multiple states. Former President Trump, on his social media platform Truth Social, suggested that those who deface Tesla locations could potentially be sent to El Salvador for prosecution. This proposal has raised concerns, with experts like Lewis from George Washington University expressing worry over labeling Tesla vandalism as terrorism and the implication of extraditing individuals to serve prison sentences in a foreign country without due process.
