Trump To Classify Tesla Attacks As Terrorism Acts

President Donald Trump has announced plans to classify vandalism and attacks against Tesla vehicles and dealerships as acts of terrorism amid a growing wave of incidents targeting the electric vehicle manufacturer. The unprecedented move would significantly escalate federal response to what has become a politically charged phenomenon, with the FBI already investigating multiple cases of property damage, including an incident in Kansas City where several Cybertrucks were damaged at a dealership.

The president’s statement comes as Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who also serves as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump administration, expressed shock at the increasing hostility toward the company. “I will do that. I’m going to stop them. Because they are harming a great American company. It’s a great product, and we have to celebrate [Musk],” Trump stated according to Newsweek, highlighting his administration’s determination to protect Tesla’s operations and reputation.

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Presidential Support Goes Beyond Words

Trump has backed his verbal support for Tesla and Musk with personal action, recently purchasing a Tesla vehicle despite acknowledging that Secret Service protocol prevents him from driving it himself. Additionally, the president confirmed buying a Cybertruck for his granddaughter, Kai, further demonstrating his alignment with the company and its products.

“I just want people to know that he can’t be penalized for being a patriot,” Trump told reporters outside the White House, referring to Musk. “And he’s a great patriot. And he’s also done an incredible job with Tesla.” This public display of support represents an extraordinary intervention by a sitting president into what would typically be treated as localized property crimes rather than national security concerns.

The president’s characterization of damage to Tesla vehicles as terrorism rather than vandalism marks a significant expansion of how such activities are classified. Traditional definitions of terrorism generally involve violence or intimidation for political aims, especially against civilians. The application of this designation to property crimes against a specific corporation with ties to the administration raises questions about the potential precedent being established.

Incidents Mount Across Multiple States

Reports of vandalism against Tesla vehicles have increased substantially in recent months, with incidents ranging from relatively minor damage to more serious attacks. In January, a 40-year-old woman allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at a Cybertruck parked at a dealership in Colorado, reportedly returning four more times to cause additional damage before being arrested, according to Fox Business.

More recently, the FBI announced an investigation into damage to multiple Cybertrucks at a dealership in Kansas City. These high-profile incidents represent only a portion of what Tesla owners report as a broader pattern of hostility, including keying, spray-painting, and other forms of vandalism targeting their vehicles in public spaces.

Musk Links Attacks to Government Efficiency Role

Musk has directly connected the increasing hostility toward Tesla to his work with the Trump administration, particularly his leadership of the DOGE. During a recent Fox News interview, Musk suggested that the backlash stems from his efforts to eliminate fraud and waste in government spending.

“It turns out when you take away the money people get fraudulently, they get very upset,” Musk stated. “They basically want to kill me because I’m stopping their fraud, and they want to hurt Tesla because we are stopping this terrible waste and corruption in the government. I guess they are bad people. Bad people do bad things.”

The Tesla CEO expressed particular surprise at what he characterized as “violence from the left,” stating: “I thought the Democrats were supposed to be the party of empathy, the party of caring, and yet they’re burning down cars, and firing bullets into dealerships.” Musk emphasized that Tesla is “a peaceful company” that has “never done anything harmful.”

Owner Responses Vary Dramatically

The increasing politicization of Tesla ownership has prompted diverse reactions among the company’s customer base. While some owners have rushed to sell their vehicles amid concerns about being targeted, others have doubled down on their support for the company and its controversial CEO.

Tesla trade-ins reached record levels this month, with 2017 or newer models making up 1.4% of vehicle trade-ins during March 2025, compared to just 0.4% in March 2024. This trend has been accompanied by public announcements from several high-profile owners regarding their decisions to part with their Teslas, including Senator Mark Kelly, who cited discomfort with feeling like “a rolling billboard for a man dismantling our government.”

Conversely, some Tesla supporters have responded to the backlash by increasing their investment in the company. Joshua Hazel, a Cybertruck owner who reported thousands of dollars in damage after participating in a Mardi Gras parade, told reporters he purchased additional Tesla shares following the incident, while another owner ordered Tesla collectibles despite experiencing similar vandalism.

Legal and Security Implications

The potential classification of anti-Tesla vandalism as terrorism raises significant questions about enforcement priorities and resource allocation within federal law enforcement agencies. Terrorism designations typically trigger enhanced investigative powers, stiffer penalties, and greater resource commitment from agencies like the FBI and Department of Homeland Security.

Legal experts note that such a classification would represent an extraordinary expansion of terrorism definitions to include property crimes targeting a specific corporation with direct ties to the presidential administration. This expansion could potentially create precedents affecting how other politically motivated property damage is classified and prosecuted in the future.

As Tesla continues to navigate the challenges of being increasingly associated with Musk’s political profile, the company faces both operational and public relations challenges. The presidential intervention highlights the unusual position Tesla now occupies as both a major automotive manufacturer and a symbolic extension of its founder’s controversial political activities in the Trump administration.

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