Trump Administration Cracks Down on Tesla Demonstrators, Alleges Presence of Weapons of Mass Destruction
America's rhythm is reminiscent of the early 2000s, with the latest concern being attacks on Tesla dealerships.
Last Friday, the FBI issued a public warning about these attacks, urging vigilance as at least nine incidents have taken place with people shooting and setting fire to empty Tesla cars, as well as throwing molotov cocktails at unoccupied buildings. Monday saw yet another incident, with suspected incendiary devices discovered at a dealership in Austin according to KXAN.
Attorney General Pam Bondi ramped up the rhetoric on Sunday, during an interview on Fox News, labeling these attackers as "possessors of weapons of mass destruction."
"Far from isolated incidents, and they're not just vandals," Bondi told Maria Bartiromo. "They're using Molotov cocktails, which under certain domestic terrorism laws, might be classed as weapons of mass destruction."
The term "weapon of mass destruction" holds a distinct definition on the Department of Homeland Security's website — a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, or other device intended to inflict harm upon a large number of individuals. One could argue that a molotov cocktail fits under this definition based on the numerous ways the term is defined under domestic terrorism laws. But whatever the technicality, Bondi's intention is clear — she's aiming to use the fear-inducing post-9/11 playbook to whip up panic among the public and justify a brutal response. Back in 2002, it was allegations of Iraq's leader Saddam Hussein owning WMDs that purported to threaten the U.S. Today, it's supposed WMDs aimed at Elon Musk's businesses.
Hussein, of course, had no such weapons, but the lie President George W. Bush used to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq led many to recognize the war as unnecessary. Sadly, fearmongering of this caliber tends to succeed, hinging on the general public's understanding that mass casualty incidents warrant a serious response.
Things escalated further when Bondi accused Democratic Texas congresswoman, Jasmine Crockett, of ties to domestic terrorism. "This is domestic terrorism," Bondi stated on Fox News, "And now you have this congresswoman Crockett, inciting attacks on Elon Musk on her birthday. I'm not advocating for violence, she says. Well, she's an elected official and must be careful, for nothing will happen to Elon Musk, and we'll fight to protect all Tesla owners nationwide."
Crockett hit back at Bondi's accusations, telling MSNBC that she encourages violence, with one exception — those who took part in the January 6, 2021, insurrection which Trump pardoned.
The property destruction at Tesla dealerships is grabbing headlines, but peaceful protests against Musk are getting overlooked. Dubbed "Tesla Takedown," these protests have popped up at nearly every Tesla dealership across the country for the past two months. Protesters are unhappy with Musk's governmental influence, as his DOGE agents continue to disrupt various government agencies, often unaware of their impact.
Musk neither elected nor confirmed, yet he acts as a co-president to Trump. Musk has repeatedly claimed to decide what's worthy of funding, even though Congress has the sole authority to decide such matters. Musk is tearing apart entire agencies, such as USAID, despite the fact that only Congress can legally do something so drastic.
Trump supporters have also joined the anti-Tesla protests, including one man who employed a stun gun against peaceful protesters during a demonstration in Berkeley, California, over the weekend. In Florida, a man intentionally drove his SUV at a crowd of protesters, though fortunately, no one was hurt.
Despite these escalating issues, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has yet to take a firm stance against Musk. Schumer voted to accelerate the Republican funding bill two weeks ago and received no return on his efforts. Unless elected leaders like Schumer start reacting like the country is in crisis, protests at Tesla dealerships may remain the primary option for many Americans to voice their dissatisfaction.
Trump has also promised to go after the individuals financing the attacks on Tesla dealerships, despite the FBI's conclusion that these incidents are likely the work of "lone offenders."
Overall, the protests against Tesla dealerships symbolize a growing unease with Elon Musk and his role in government and businesses. While some officials, like Attorney General Pam Bondi, have denounced violent conduct related to the protests, others, like Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, have supported peaceful demonstrations against Musk's policies.
- By using the term "weapons of mass destruction" to describe Molotov cocktails, Attorney General Pam Bondi has likened the attacks on Tesla dealerships to acts of terrorism, drawing a parallel to the post-9/11 era.
- In the future, if the Tech industry becomes a target for such attacks, it could potentially utilize advanced technology to better secure its assets, much like how measures were taken to improve airport security following 2001.
- President Trump, in an attempt to address the violent attacks on Tesla dealerships, has pledged to investigate those responsible for financing the incidents, but the FBI has suggested that these incidents are more likely to be the work of individual offenders rather than a coordinated campaign.
- In the increasingly divisive political climate of 2025, where tech businesses like Tesla find themselves at the forefront of public unrest, it's increasingly possible that future attacks could escalate in scale and complexity, potentially involving more sophisticated methods or threats such as radiological attacks.
