Elon Musk has always been a lightning rod for controversy, but lately, the heat has really turned up on his businesses. As the billionaire continues to rise as an advisor to the Trump administration, his empire—especially his social media platform X and Tesla—is facing some serious backlash.
The latest blow? A huge cyberattack on X, causing massive outages. Musk claims that the attack came from Ukrainian IP addresses, though the full scope of what happened is still unclear. While X works to get to the bottom of it, Musk has speculated that such a large-scale attack could only be carried out by a well-organized group or even a nation-state.
But it's not just his tech platforms that are under fire. Tesla showrooms have become a battleground in more ways than one. Over the past week, there’s been a string of incidents, including Molotov cocktails thrown at showrooms, gunshots fired, and even reports of arson. Dozens of Tesla charging stations across the U.S. have been set ablaze, adding to the chaos.
The protests, while mostly peaceful, have become increasingly intense, with some turning violent. Just this Thursday, police in Portland, Oregon, were called to a Tesla showroom after gunshots rang out at 1:45 a.m. Local authorities said that at least seven shots were fired, damaging cars and shattering windows. One bullet even went through an office wall and hit a computer.
These incidents are worrying for Tesla, especially as they come at a time when the company is already facing declining sales. The threat of vandalism may scare away potential buyers, according to Gordon Johnson, founder of GLJ Research, who’s known for his bearish views on Tesla stock. He believes that no one wants to spend money on a Tesla just to have it vandalized.
On top of that, Musk’s push for government cost-cutting through his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has sparked protests against his policies. Many people are angry about the slashing of federal jobs and budgets, leading to chants of “Elon Musk has got to go” outside Tesla showrooms.
While protests have been mostly peaceful, the tension is real, and it’s only getting worse. Musk’s rising clout in the Trump administration seems to be making him even more of a target, as the MAGA movement’s popularity continues to wane. With Tesla’s sales slipping and attacks on his businesses mounting, Musk may have more than just financial problems to deal with.
