Elon Musk has expressed his disbelief over the recent surge of violence and vandalism directed at Tesla vehicles. This reaction comes after a series of attacks, including arson and gunfire, which Musk attributes to his recent government cost-cutting initiatives. Speaking to Fox News, he described the situation as shocking, particularly noting that he expected more empathy from the left, whom he accused of being behind the hostility.
Musk’s comments followed a disturbing incident in Las Vegas, where five Tesla cars were damaged in a fire that authorities believe was set by an arsonist using Molotov cocktails. The phrase "RESIST" was spray-painted on the building, and gunshots were reported at other Tesla locations. In light of these events, Attorney General Pam Bondi labeled the attacks as “domestic terrorism.”
Musk defended his electric car company, asserting that Tesla has always operated peacefully and that he has never engaged in harmful actions. He suggested that the backlash stems from his efforts to eliminate waste and fraud in government spending, which he claims has angered those who benefit from such practices. “When you take away people’s fraudulent money, they get very upset,” he remarked.
He further questioned whether there are larger forces behind the attacks, raising concerns about who might be funding or coordinating such actions. Musk emphasized that the extreme violence is a reaction to his success in addressing corruption and waste, stating, “If we were not succeeding in getting rid of corruption and waste, they wouldn’t care.”
In a separate note, Musk celebrated the safe return of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who arrived back on Earth after a nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station. He expressed hope that this moment would inspire optimism about the future of humanity in space.