The one thing Elon Musk really can’t have right now as he serves as the absentee CEO of Tesla is more negative attention—not only can his ego not handle it, as a recent report from the Washington Post suggested, but his car company’s reputation really cannot suffer any more hits. So it’s hard to imagine he’s thrilled about Extinction Rebellion, the occasionally controversial environmental movement, spray painting the windows of Tesla dealerships with anti-Musk messaging at a time when his tarnished image is already seemingly costing the company money.
FreedomNews.TV documented protesters with the non-violent protest group hitting up a Tesla showroom in Manhattan on Tuesday, using spray paint to leave messages in opposition to Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Demonstrators sprayed “Fuck DOGE” and “We do not consent” among other generally anti-Musk positions on the building as part of an Earth Day demonstration. It’s a pretty daring campaign given the Trump administration’s stated goal to crack down on those who vandalize Tesla dealerships and threats to hit the worst offenders with terrorism charges.
BREAKING: Climate Activists TAG windows of Tesla Showroom in Manhattan on #EarthDay
Extinction Rebellion tagged “F Off DOGE” and “WE DO NOT CONSENT” among other writings on the windows. pic.twitter.com/XMHBYnBxwY
— Oliya Scootercaster
(@ScooterCasterNY) April 22, 2025
It also happens to come on the same day that Tesla is expected to report its first quarter earnings for 2025, in what some investors see as a potential make-or-break moment for the company. Tesla’s stock price has taken a hit over the course of this year as Musk’s role in government has drawn the ire of protesters and hurt the electric vehicle company’s brand.
Certainly, the litany of demonstrations outside of Tesla dealerships has not been great for overall morale or the bottom line. Dealerships and showrooms have been the target of organized protests and seemingly less organized attacks that have included shooting out windows and setting vehicles on fire. Tesla drivers, embarrassed by the car’s association with Musk and in some cases afraid of getting heckled, have either ditched their cars or tried to cover their shame by covering up the branding.
Theoretically, and certainly in Musk’s version of reality, environmental activists would support Tesla, seeing as it’s arguably the most noteworthy electric vehicle. But the thing is, when you throw your full weight behind an administration that straight up does not believe climate change is a real thing, intends to drill for more oil and burn more coal, and generally just revel in doing things that harm the planet, you kinda lose your credibility with that crowd.
