Since Tesla CEO Elon Musk was appointed to be in charge of the newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency in President Donald Trump’s administration, the U.S. has seen growing protests surrounding Musk’s cuts to several government agencies and his alliance with Trump. 

On Tesla’s website, the company highlights its commitment to a sustainable future and shifting away from fossil fuels. Musk also claims to be “super pro climate” and believes in the risks associated with global climate change. However, Musk and the Trump administration have cut jobs from important environmental agencies, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Park Service. 

Musk’s work as part of the Trump administration is a contradiction of his self-proclaimed commitment to environmental protection. His actions have sparked various reactions from Tesla owners. Peaceful protests, organized by the TeslaTakedown movement, have advocated for owners to sell Teslas and join the protest against Musk’s DOGE cuts. Democrats are more interested in buying electric vehicles than Republicans, so peaceful protests motivated by political affiliation allow opponents to express their beliefs. More violently, Tesla stores and showrooms have been set on fire, shot at and vandalized.

Musk has said that these protests are targeting an innocent company. Tesla’s stock recently dropped 6%; however, Trump’s 25% tariff on imported foreign cars might help boost Tesla sales, as they are made in the U.S. The March 29 TeslaTakedown demonstrations, which saw protesters in multiple cities across the country, signify that some voters are outraged by Musk’s actions. These protests underscore that the intersection of business and politics related to environmental concerns is and should remain an important issue to Americans.