Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and owner of X (formerly Twitter), is making a concerted effort to promote Tesla on social media amid a sharp downturn in the company’s stock value and growing controversy surrounding his political engagements. On Monday, Musk’s X feed was a blend of political discourse, attacks on government agencies, and posts from accounts affiliated with former U.S. President Donald Trump. However, interspersed among these were numerous posts highlighting Tesla’s vehicles and upcoming projects.
Musk shared a TikTok video featuring a man showing off the design and features of the Tesla Model Y. Before that, he amplified positive comments about Tesla from right-wing figures, including anti-LGBTQ activist Robby Starbuck and controversial conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer. Over the weekend, he also posted a clip from a Tesla fan account showcasing the Cybercab prototype—a two-seater autonomous vehicle that the company claims will enter production by 2026. In addition, Musk posted a video recorded by a Cybertruck owner, thanking Tesla supporters despite what he described as “many attacks” on the company’s stores and offices. His comment referred to recent incidents of arson and vandalism targeting Tesla locations, which some sources believe are politically motivated.
Tesla’s Stock Plummets as Market Concerns Grow
Musk’s increased focus on Tesla promotions could be linked to the company’s declining stock performance. On Monday, Tesla’s share price fell by more than 15%, marking one of its worst trading days since the company went public in 2010. This downturn erased any stock gains Tesla had achieved following Trump’s victory in the November 2024 election. Since reaching a peak in mid-December, Tesla has lost over 50% of its market value—equivalent to nearly $800 billion in shareholder losses.
Several factors have contributed to this decline. Broader market concerns, including hints of a possible recession, have impacted investor confidence. However, Tesla’s unique position in the spotlight due to Musk’s political actions has exacerbated the situation. Since assuming a leading role in the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a controversial task force dismantling government agencies and firing thousands of federal employees, Musk has drawn increasing public backlash. Many believe that his close ties to Trump and alignment with right-wing policies have tainted Tesla’s reputation. This negative sentiment has fueled an organized protest movement known as “Tesla Takedown.”
Tesla Takedown: The Growing Anti-Tesla Protest Movement
The Tesla Takedown campaign, launched last month, is spearheading global protests against Tesla while urging a boycott of the company. Protesters have been organizing demonstrations at Tesla dealerships and corporate offices worldwide, calling for shareholders to divest from the company. The movement’s traction has been fueled by Musk’s political actions, including his participation in Trump’s second inauguration, where he made a widely condemned gesture interpreted by some as a Nazi salute.
The backlash against Musk’s involvement in government restructuring and his continued dissemination of far-right misinformation on X has put Tesla in an increasingly precarious position. Tesla Takedown has garnered widespread support, particularly from progressive groups and environmentalists who once viewed the company as a pioneer in sustainable energy but now see it as a reflection of Musk’s controversial politics.
Musk’s Reaction to Protests and Allegations
Unsurprisingly, Musk has dismissed the Tesla Takedown movement, claiming it is a coordinated effort funded by wealthy liberal donors. Over the weekend, he alleged—without providing any evidence—that philanthropists such as George Soros, Reid Hoffman, and Leah Hunt-Hendrix were financially backing the protests through the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue.
However, Musk’s claims were quickly challenged. Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn and a former PayPal executive who worked alongside Musk in the early 2000s, directly refuted the allegations. Taking to X, he wrote, “Just one more of Elon’s false claims about me: I never funded anyone for Tesla protests. I don’t condone violence. But it’s clear Americans are angry at him—it’s easier to explain away their anger than to accept that actions have consequences.”
In response, Musk resorted to insinuations, asking Hoffman, “Describe your favorite island vacation,” in an apparent reference to Jeffrey Epstein’s private island. This baseless attempt to link Hoffman to Epstein’s sex trafficking ring is part of a broader pattern in Musk’s online behavior—he has previously amplified similar accusations without evidence. Hoffman has since revealed that he had to hire security due to Musk’s repeated, unfounded allegations.
Escalating Attacks on Tesla Facilities
While Musk continues to push the narrative that Tesla protests are part of a broader liberal conspiracy, incidents of vandalism and arson at Tesla locations are raising concerns. Several Tesla dealerships have reported acts of vandalism, ranging from graffiti to gunfire damage. Notably, a Tesla dealership in Hobart, Australia, was defaced with graffiti branding Musk a Nazi, underscoring the deepening public resentment.
In Loveland, Colorado, a suspect was arrested for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails and damaging vehicles at a Tesla dealership. Despite being charged with felony arson and held on a $100,000 bond, the suspect was released the following day. This prompted criticism from local law enforcement, who decried the lack of stringent consequences for such acts of destruction. The Loveland police chief publicly condemned the release, arguing that lenient treatment of vandalism suspects contributes to an atmosphere of lawlessness.
Musk Amplifies Conspiracy Theories Amid X Outages
As Tesla’s stock struggles, Musk’s other major venture, X, also faced significant challenges on Monday. The platform experienced a series of outages, which Musk attributed to a “massive cyberattack,” though he did not provide further details. Instead of offering transparency, he used the situation to further spread conspiracy theories.
One widely circulated claim on X alleged that “multiple Democrat [non-governmental organizations] have coordinated attacks on Tesla dealerships, staff, and vehicles.” The post, which lacked any supporting evidence, specifically cited an arson attack in Seattle, where several Cybertrucks were damaged by fire. Musk shared the post with the caption, “This is crazy,” lending credibility to the unfounded claim that Democratic operatives were behind the attack.
The reality, however, is that the Seattle fire remains under investigation, and there is no publicly available information linking it to any political group. Nevertheless, Musk’s tendency to amplify baseless accusations aligns with his history of engaging in misinformation, particularly when defending Tesla or attacking perceived political adversaries.
Tesla’s Future Amid Mounting Controversy
While Musk continues to leverage his social media influence to counteract negative narratives surrounding Tesla, the company is facing mounting challenges. Tesla’s stock free-fall, combined with its increasing entanglement in political controversy, has created an uncertain future for the automaker. Once heralded as the leader in the electric vehicle revolution, Tesla now finds itself at a crossroads, with consumer perception shifting amid growing political and social tensions.
Musk’s ongoing battle with protesters, critics, and investors suggests that the coming months will be critical for Tesla’s long-term stability. Whether his promotional efforts on X can counteract the company’s declining reputation remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear—Tesla’s brand image is now inextricably linked to the polarizing figure at its helm.
