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By Theo Burman
Live News Reporter
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Two Tesla vehicles were vandalized by people who wiped feces on them, indicating that a new form of protest against Elon Musk is emerging.
Musk's electric car company has become a target for vandalism and protest in the wake of the CEO's increasing political activity, with fire attacks targeting the vehicles on several occasions.
Newsweek has contacted Tesla for a response to the protests via email.
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Why It Matters
Musk's net worth is closely tied to Tesla's stock, but the company's value has declined for the last two weeks, as Musk ramps up his political activity in the Trump administration as chief of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
However, the backlash to Tesla is also cultural, with vandalism against the car company becoming a symbol for protests against Musk and President Donald Trump.
What To Know
The two incidents, which happened in different parts of the country and appear to be unrelated, were both recorded by Tesla's Sentry Mode security system, which captures footage directly outside the vehicle.
In the first video, which occurred in St. Petersburg, Florida, a man walking his dog can be seen holding a bag of canine feces while walking past the Tesla. He then threw the excrement at the car using the bag, before walking away.
The second clip, shared online by conservative Twitter account LibsofTikTok, shows a man walking up to the Tesla Cybertruck while reaching down his pants, before wiping his hands on the window of the car.
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On both occasions, the incidents do not seem to be planned out; both men appear to behave casually and reactively upon seeing the cars.
What People Are Saying
Twitter account Liberacrat called for the men vandalizing the vehicles to be arrested, writing on social media: "Another radical leftist was caught on Tesla Sentry Mode, this time throwing his dogs feces at a parked Cybertruck in St. Petersburg. The owner needs help locating this suspect to pursue criminal and legal action."
During an interview with Sean Hannity about the protests, Musk said: "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."
What Happens Next
Musk maintains his major role in the Trump administration at the Department of Government Efficiency, as protests against Tesla vehicles are expected to continue.
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