# 'I bought this before Elon went crazy': Teslas targeted as Musk backlash grows

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I bought this before Elon went crazy: Teslas targeted as Musk backlash grows
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**Author:** Phaedra Trethan  
**Source:** USA TODAY

**Published:** 7:07 p.m. ET March 4, 2025  
**Updated:** 12:47 p.m. ET March 5, 2025

Authorities in Massachusetts say a fire at a Tesla supercharger station may have been intentionally set, the latest in a string of vandalism targeting Tesla owners and dealerships across the nation.

The backlash comes as Elon Musk has taken a major role in the Trump administration's government cost-cutting campaign. Some Cybertruck owners report being harassed, and news reports nationally show multiple dealerships have been targeted by anti-Musk vandals.

Last week, protesters across the country showed up at Tesla dealerships for a "Tesla Takedown," a demonstration against Musk, Tesla's CEO, and his efforts to shrink and remake American government, Trump's social media platform X under his stewardship, and his outsized influence on federal spending.

Some, though, have crossed the line from peaceful protests as people vandalize the cars that helped make Musk a household name long before his foray into American politics.

Cybertruck owners have shared displays of hostility from other motorists on a Facebook page, including vulgar notes left on their vehicles and obscene gestures directed at them from passing cars. Etsy offers several stickers for Tesla owners to affix to their bumpers with messages including "This Tesla does not endorse Elon Musk," "Anti Elon Tesla Club" and "I bought this before Elon went crazy."

And Tesla owners are asking Musk and the vehicle manufacturer to help fend off potential vandals, according to a media outlet focused on Tesla, SpaceX, and other Musk-owned companies.

## How are Teslas being targeted?

In Colorado, a 42-year-old woman, Lucy Grace Nelson, was charged with malicious destruction of property after being accused of spray-painting graffiti on signs and vehicles at a Loveland Tesla dealership, CBS News reported. Nelson, authorities said, painted messages mentioning Musk and his support of right-wing figures in the U.S., Germany, and elsewhere.

The photos from the federal arrest documents also show small fires on the lot of the dealership that are believed to have been started by molotov cocktails inside vodka bottles; the suspect is seen throwing the explosives across the lot in some of the photos, CBS reported.

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## Why are Teslas being targeted?

Musk, Tesla's CEO and co-founder, has emerged as one of the most polarizing figures in the U.S. and Europe as his political engagement, stewardship of the social platform X (formerly Twitter), and provocative public statements have escalated.

The , Musk became a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump during Trump's 2024 campaign and has become a central figure in implementing Trump's agenda.

He has created an agency that has fired thousands of government employees, referred to Social Security as a "Ponzi scheme," called for the dissolution of entire government agencies, and touched on the issue of <em>gun control.</em> Musk has also drawn criticism for what he calls a <em>Nazi-like salute</em> during a Trump inaugural event; Musk has denied the accusation.

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## What features might Tesla add to its vehicles to prevent vandalism?

In a March 3 post,  Elon Musk tweeted that Tesla could "honk at people if you want" to warn against potential thieves or vandals.

The update, Tesla said, "seems like an easy fix, and it can be installed through an Over-the-Air update."

Tesla is already equipped with security features including cabin cameras, alarms if the trunk or doors are opened without a key, and Sentry Mode, which monitors the environment around unattended cars. That feature can use external cameras and switch on alerts and alarms to dissuade potential thieves or vandals, and alert owners via a mobile app that something is happening.

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