Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, recently criticized MSNBC for relating U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning about attacks on Tesla and its customers to acts of protest. Musk called this relation insane, emphasizing that violent actions taken against Tesla are not legitimate forms of protest.
In recent months, Tesla has faced a surge in attacks, with showrooms being shot up, vandalized, and set on fire. Supercharger stations have also been targeted with arson. Private Tesla owners have not been spared either, with reports of their vehicles being attacked by vandals and critics. One Cybertruck owner even shared an incident where a passenger was physically harmed during an anti-Tesla activist’s attack on their electric pickup truck.
In response to these attacks, Trump issued a warning to potential perpetrators, stating that those who harm American companies like Tesla will face severe consequences when apprehended. However, MSNBC framed Trump’s warning as a defense of a failing billionaire’s company without acknowledging the violent nature of the attacks against Tesla and its customers.
Elon Musk took to social media to criticize MSNBC’s response, calling them “totally insane” for overlooking the seriousness of the attacks. He clarified that while peaceful protests are acceptable, violent actions such as shooting up Tesla stores and burning Superchargers are not legitimate forms of protest.
In a tweet, Musk emphasized that death threats and acts of violence against Tesla are inexcusable and should not be justified as forms of protest. The controversy highlights the challenges faced by Tesla as a prominent electric vehicle manufacturer and the need to address violent attacks against the company and its supporters.