Across social media platforms and news stations, thousands of videos featuring the vandalization of Tesla vehicles have made waves.

The phenomenon became so widespread that Tesla owners started putting notes on their cars in attempts to dissuade attacks.

But it is not just the vehicles in neighborhoods and parking lots that are under attack. Tesla, the company itself, is not at its prime.

With plummeting stocks and profits dropping significantly, it can hardly be believed only half a decade ago Tesla was a front-runner when it came to electric cars!

But, why is this happening? Why has the general public turned so vehemently against Tesla?

Elon Musk and DOGE

On November 12th, 2024, mere days after winning the presidency, Donald Trump announced the creation of the controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The agency was founded to, in his words, "dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies".

Oh, and he appointed Elon Musk to lead the department.

Originally, DOGE was supposed to be led by both Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, but after the former presidential candidate got caught in controversy, Ramaswamy announced his exit from the agency on the day of Trump's inauguration. This left Musk to be the sole leader calling the shots.

Of course, there was excitement from supporters, but concerns overtook the minds of skeptics.

While those cheering for the department and its leadership felt that this, this(!) would finally be the pathway to eliminating government waste and exposing corruption, doubtful citizens did not agree with this assessment.

Elon Musk, a man without any political experience, who was not elected as a government official now oversaw one of its core agencies. A private citizen as of practically yesterday, he suddenly gained access to millions of people’s Social Security numbers, payment information, and more.

Did he truly understand what he would be doing? Did he know the ins and outs of government policy and economics? Or did he simply hear through the grapevine that “the government is corrupt” and blindly jumped at the opportunity to be America’s knight in shining armor?

It depends on who you ask. But it seems at least one side of the aisle has made its position clear.

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Widespread Protests

Across America, millions of protesters have taken to the streets to make their opposition to Trump, Musk and DOGE heard. The organization 'Hands Off!' for instance hosted over 1,200 protests in every state across the country back in April.

PBS News, which had boots on the ground reported,

"Protesters assailed the Trump administration’s moves to fire thousands of federal workers, close Social Security Administration field offices, effectively shutter entire agencies, deport immigrants, scale back protections for transgender people and cut federal funding for health programs."

The White House responded to these events by claiming Trump has made clear his stance to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible citizens. But with talk of the "big beautiful bill" making headlines, protesters are still heading towards the streets and town halls.

Seemingly unbothered, Musk shared his belief regarding the protesters that "The problem is the puppet masters, not the puppets, as the latter have no idea why they are even there".

I suppose for some, protests can be quite simple to ignore. Even when these protests are spreading to Britain, Germany, Italy, and other countries.

This is why those hard pressed against Musk have hit him (and Tesla) where it hurts.

Plummeting Profits

Tesla's profits are going downhill significantly, and this downward spiral is happening fast.

According to the Associated Press, from January to March, Tesla's revenue went down 9%, which is unsurprising being Tesla's 2025 January registrations fell 11% in America.

But in April, a shocking 70% decrease in Tesla's quarterly profits was reported.

Many people are simply not buying Tesla vehicles anymore. This reluctance to head to the dealership is not only rampant across America. Tesla sales are plummeting globally.

In Germany for instance, February sales (year over year) went down by a whooping 76%, despite the country's sales of general electric vehicles growing by 31%. In Norway and Denmark, February sales saw a sharp decline by 48%. Sales of China manufactured Tesla cars equaled a mere 30,688 in February 2025, its lowest month since August 2022. Year over year sales in Sweden decreased by 42%, among others.

It should be said, of course, that Musk's behavior is not the sole reason for Tesla's recent lack of sales. Factors such as increased E.V. competition, failure to deliver on certain innovations, and investors are also relevant factors in this phenomenon.

Either way, Tesla is not faring so well.

Was it Worth It?

The question remains, was it worth it for Elon Musk to take a step back for a time from Tesla in order to join Trump in the White House? After the poor PR that has skyrocketed since?

Because not even six months after beginning his work, Musk announced his departure from DOGE in late May. And it does not seem as if he departed on upstanding terms with President Trump.

Mere days after his resignation, Musk posted the following on X in reference to the president's controversial "big, beautiful bill":

"This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it."

In a (now resolved?) feud between the two men, fiery insults and accusations were hurled publicly on X and Truth Social. From Musk claiming that Trump is on the Epstein files, to Trump threatening Musk with cutting his government contracts, it seems nothing was off the table.

But remember those vandalized Tesla vehicles? Apparently sticky notes were not enough, because following Tesla's reputational decline, owning a Tesla became an embarrassment. A symbol that you support Elon Musk's far-right agenda.

At least this is what the Tesla owners suing the company are claiming.

A report by The Independent details,

"A group of Tesla owners in France is suing Elon Musk's car company, alleging its vehicles have become "far-right totems" that are harming their reputation...The group is seeking to terminate their lease contracts and recover legal costs at the Paris Commercial Court, citing the "direct and concrete" harm caused by Musk's public behavior after he rallied in support of Donald Trump's presidential bid and Germany's far-right AfD party."

Owning a Tesla may not be the "flex" it once was. The internet doesn't forget, and with new EV companies appearing in the limelight, the question lingers...can the company recover from this?

It can be quite difficult to bounce back from widespread backlash from a faulty product, but it becomes more so when a company's CEO is publicly associated with certain political parties and government agencies.

When new electric vehicles are booming in the market.

When it does not look like that CEO is planning on stepping down.

But, only time can tell the future.

Maybe, Tesla will do a 180 and shock us all.