U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi aligned herself with President Donald Trump’s stance on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, by labeling those who vandalize and violently target Teslas as “domestic terrorists.” Bondi, Trump’s nominee for attorney general announced in November and a former Florida attorney general, issued the statement amid a wave of attacks on Tesla property.
“The surge of violent assaults on Tesla assets is unequivocally domestic terrorism,” Bondi declared. She revealed that the Department of Justice has already charged “several individuals” involved in these incidents, with some facing charges that carry mandatory minimum sentences of five years.
“We will persist in our investigations, ensuring harsh penalties for those participating in these attacks, including anyone orchestrating or financing them behind the scenes,” she added.
Recent “Tesla Takedown” protests, reported by Reuters, have seen activists target Tesla dealerships to express discontent with CEO Elon Musk’s role in aggressive federal workforce reductions since Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025.
Last week, Trump, standing alongside Musk on the White House South Lawn, suggested designating those attacking Tesla owners and dealerships as “domestic terrorists.” “I’ll take action. I’m going to stop them … they’re damaging a great American company,” Trump said. “Hurting a company like this, which provides jobs others can’t, is unacceptable.”
House DOGE Subcommittee Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) also weighed in last week, stating that her committee had urged Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to probe what she called “organized” attacks against Musk, Tesla, and the DOGE initiative.
The Trump administration’s support for Musk coincides with a sharp decline in Tesla’s stock, which has fallen 50% since December, trading at approximately $233 per share as of Wednesday morning—a $127 drop in the past month, per NASDAQ.
JPMorgan analysts, cited by Business Insider, attribute this slump to a weakening EV market, declining global sales, and brand damage linked to Musk’s political activities, including his unofficial leadership of DOGE.
Tesla dealerships nationwide have borne the brunt of this backlash. In Fort Lauderdale, police reported that 34 new Cybertrucks in a parking lot were vandalized with the message “(expletive) Elon,” according to WPLG.
Last month, federal authorities launched an investigation into vandalism at a Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado, where windows were shattered, Cybertruck windshields marked with red X’s, and an attempted fire set. Local reports noted “Nazi Cars” graffiti on vehicles, marking the third such incident there in 2025.
This week, Las Vegas police reported a “targeted attack” at a Tesla Collision Center involving Molotov cocktails and gunfire, which destroyed several vehicles. Authorities believe the suspect fired at least three shots and used explosives to start fires.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is assisting, though Special Agent in Charge Spencer Evans cautioned it’s “too early” to confirm it as terrorism, despite it bearing “some hallmarks” of such acts. “Violence like this is intolerable, no matter where it happens,” Evans said. “It’s a federal offense, and we will pursue and prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”
