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By Theo Burman
Live News Reporter
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The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has issued a public warning as protests against automotive company Tesla continue to be used to show opposition against the Trump administration.
The FBI said that the public should "exercise vigilance and to look out for suspicious activity," calling on citizens to report any violence to the authorities immediately.
Newsweek has contacted Tesla for a response to the protests via email.
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Why It Matters
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has worked in tandem with President Donald Trump during his second term in office. Musk is tasked with spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and has faced fierce backlash amid cuts to the federal budget, including thousands of federal jobs.
Amid the resistance, Tesla cars and property have been targeted and torched across the United States in apparent retaliation. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement on Tuesday that the attacks are "nothing short of domestic terrorism."
What To Know
In a statement published on March 21, the FBI said that the targeting of Tesla electric vehicles (EV) was "violent or malicious" and called on the public to have greater awareness of the issue.
"Since January 2025, incidents targeting Tesla EVs have occurred in at least nine states," the statement reads. "These incidents have involved arson, gunfire, and vandalism, including graffiti expressing grievances against those the perpetrators perceive to be racists, fascists, or political opponents. These criminal actions appear to have been conducted by lone offenders, and all known incidents occurred at night."
The statement continued: "Individuals require little planning to use rudimentary tactics, such as improvised incendiary devices and firearms, and may perceive these attacks as victimless property crimes."
The news comes as Tesla protests are becoming a cause of further violence. Over the weekend, a Trump supporter came to blows with protestors at a Tesla dealership in Berkeley, California, and was arrested after using a Taser-like object.
Last week, a Las Vegas Tesla collision center was attacked. Authorities said numerous vehicles were set ablaze and the building's doors were spray-painted with the word "resist."
Vandalism against Tesla vehicles has also appeared in less organized forms, such as an increasing trend of passers-by smearing feces on the cars, which is often caught on camera by the vehicle's sentry system.
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What People Are Saying
In reaction to the continued protests against Tesla, Elon Musk told Fox News' Sean Hannity last week: "Tesla is a peaceful company; we've never done anything harmful; I've never done anything harmful; I've always done productive things. So, there's some kind of mental illness thing going on because this doesn't make any sense."
President Donald Trump said earlier this month that he would make violence against Tesla a terrorism charge: "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]."
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Tuesday: "The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism. The Department of Justice has already charged several perpetrators with that in mind, including in cases that involve charges with five-year mandatory minimum sentences. We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes."
What Happens Next?
The FBI is continuing to investigate protests against Tesla.
Update, 3/29/25 at 1:31 p.m. ET: This article has been updated to correct the name of the FBI.
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