Vice President JD Vance suggested that the ongoing vandalism of Tesla vehicles may be a coordinated effort, emphasizing that “terrorism is not cheap.”
Speaking Thursday on The Vince Show, a conservative talk program on Westwood One, Vance argued that attention should be directed toward “the guy at the top writing the checks” rather than the “foot soldiers” carrying out the attacks.
“My guess is that if we do get to the bottom of this, we’re going to find out that there are some very crazy, very deranged, but very wealthy left-wing people who are funding this stuff,” he said.
Why It Matters
The comments come amid a wave of attacks on Tesla properties across the United States and beyond, with incidents ranging from arson at charging stations to bullets fired into showrooms.
Elon Musk’s net worth is closely tied to Tesla’s stock, but the company’s value has declined for the last two weeks, as Musk ramps up his political activity in the Trump administration as chief of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The backlash to Tesla is both financial and cultural, with vandalism and protests against the car company becoming a symbol for protests against Musk and President Donald Trump.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Thursday “severe charges” in response to a “wave of domestic terrorism” targeting Tesla dealerships and charging stations.
What To Know
During his appearance on The Vince Show, Vance was asked whether he believed organizations and individuals like ActBlue, George Soros, and Reid Hoffman were financing the recent wave of Tesla vandalism.
“So, it would be consistent if they’re still funding efforts to stop the Trump agenda,” Vance said. “Yeah, it would be. And I don’t know that it’s them. I wouldn’t be shocked if it was.”
While he did not directly accuse them, he suggested that politically motivated elites could also be behind the attacks.
A burned Tesla Cybertruck is parked at a Tesla lot in Seattle, Monday, March 10, 2025. A burned Tesla Cybertruck is parked at a Tesla lot in Seattle, Monday, March 10, 2025. Associated Press
“We know that there are a lot of crazy people who have a lot of money who, I think, are willing to let the country burn quite literally, so long as it helps them accomplish their political goals. So it’s really sick, twisted stuff, man. But we’re not going to stand for it.”
Over the past few weeks, Tesla properties have been vandalized in multiple states. In Oregon, bullets shattered windows at a dealership in Tigard, and a Molotov cocktail was reportedly thrown at another location.
In Boston, seven Tesla charging stations were set ablaze, and in South Carolina, a man was arrested after allegedly setting fire to Tesla infrastructure.
The backlash has also crossed international borders. In Berlin, arsonists attacked a Tesla factory expansion site, while in France, a dozen Tesla vehicles were deliberately set on fire near the city of Toulouse.
The bad PR for Tesla doesn’t stop there, as the company announced on Thursday that it is recalling 46,096 Cybertrucks due to a safety issue with a cosmetic panel that could fall off.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, discussing his move to make violence against Tesla a terrorism charge, said: “I will do that. I’m going to stop them. Because they are harming a great American company. It’s a great product, and we have to celebrate [Musk].”
Media and marketing expert Omar Oakes told Newsweek: “Tesla’s only option now is to remove Musk as CEO. They no longer have a free run at the EV market and it’s time to put a grown-up in charge.”
What Happens Next
Musk has not indicated plans to step down from his key role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency or from Tesla, as protests against Tesla vehicles are expected to continue.
Update: 3/20/25, 1:07 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
