Why are people protesting against Elon Musk?
Elon Musk, once celebrated as a tech visionary behind Tesla and SpaceX, has faced growing backlash due to his political ties, controversial corporate decisions and provocative public statements.
Born in 1971 in Pretoria, South Africa, Elon Musk co-founded Zip2 in 1995, which was sold to Compaq in 1999. He then launched X.com, which merged with Confinity to form PayPal, acquired by eBay in 2002.
His later ventures, SpaceX (2002) and Tesla (2004), solidified his status as a leading innovator in aerospace and electric vehicles. In 2022, Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion and later rebranded the platform as X, integrating it into his broader vision for an “everything app.”
Initially celebrated for his technological contributions, Musk’s public image began to shift in the late 2010s for several reasons:
- Political involvement: Musk’s association with conservative politics, notably his support for US President Donald Trump and his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), drew criticism. His advocacy for significant federal spending cuts and program eliminations fueled discontent.
- Corporate practices: Decisions like relocating Tesla’s headquarters from California to Texas and implementing controversial labor practices contributed to negative perceptions. These actions were seen as prioritizing profit over employee welfare and regulatory compliance.
- Public statements: Musk’s public communications, especially on social media, often sparked controversy. Critics accused him of spreading misinformation and promoting conspiracy theories, which eroded trust among certain groups.
Did you know? Despite popular narratives of Elon Musk as a self-made entrepreneur, he came from a wealthy South African family. His father, Errol Musk, is suspected of owning an emerald mine in Zambia, and Elon has acknowledged receiving financial support from his family during his early ventures.
Anti-Elon Musk protests in 2025
By 2025, the aforementioned factors culminated in widespread protests targeting Musk and his business interests.
The demonstrations were driven by core grievances:
- Wealth disparity: Musk’s net worth, which reached $400 billion in December 2024, had declined to $298 billion by April 2025 due to stock market fluctuations and political controversies. His accumulation of wealth highlighted growing economic inequalities, with protesters viewing it as emblematic of systemic issues favoring the ultra-wealthy.
- Political influence: Musk’s significant political engagement, particularly his advisory role to Trump and influence over DOGE policies, has raised concerns about the concentration of power among wealthy elites. Critics feared this influence undermined democratic processes and prioritized corporate interests over public welfare.
- Corporate practices: Actions such as aggressive cost-cutting measures, perceived labor exploitation and controversial business decisions led to dissatisfaction among employees and consumers. The “Tesla Takedown” movement, for example, targeted Tesla showrooms, criticizing Musk’s leadership and corporate strategies.
- Social and environmental concerns: Musk’s business decisions were also scrutinized for their social and environmental impact. Protesters questioned Tesla’s labor practices and the environmental implications of some of his ventures, calling for more ethical and sustainable corporate behaviors.
Did you know? A March 2025 Brookings op-ed called DOGE’s naming choice a “branding blunder,” while a CNN/ORC poll found 62% of respondents viewed it as “inappropriate” for a government agency and 44% felt it damaged confidence in the administration’s reform efforts.
Tesla protest events in 2025
The “Tesla Takedown” movement, with demonstrations in over 250 cities worldwide, aimed to challenge Musk’s influence.
Originating in early 2025, this grassroots initiative organized nonviolent protests at Tesla locations across the US, Canada, Europe and Australia.
Protesters called for boycotts and urged the public to divest from Tesla by selling their vehicles and shares, intending to economically impact Musk and question his political influence.
Two key factors fueled the protests:
- Labor practices: Tesla faced allegations of labor rights violations, including reports of employees being fired for expressing dissenting opinions. The National Labor Relations Board had 24 open investigations into Musk’s companies, including allegations of illegal firings at SpaceX.
- Environmental concerns: Protesters criticized Tesla’s environmental record, highlighting issues such as alleged negligence in the installation and maintenance of solar panels, which led to roof fires at Walmart stores. Walmart filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Tesla, claiming negligent installation and maintenance of solar panels caused roof fires at seven Walmart stores dating back to 2012.
Declining sales figures underscored consumer discontent. In the first quarter of 2025, Tesla’s global vehicle deliveries dropped 13% year-over-year to 336,681 units, marking the company’s lowest quarterly performance since mid-2022.
Did you know? While intended to be peaceful, some protests escalated into acts of vandalism. For example, on March 24, 2025, incendiary devices were discovered at a Tesla dealership in Austin, Texas.
SpaceX controversy 2025
SpaceX’s activities also attracted scrutiny, particularly regarding safety and regulatory compliance.
The 2025 Starship explosion served as a stark reminder of the risks associated with private space exploration. The largest and most powerful rocket ever built disintegrated minutes after liftoff, scattering debris across protected areas and reigniting debates about safety, environmental responsibility and regulatory oversight in the private spaceflight industry.
Musk’s political involvement further complicated matters. Serving as the head of DOGE, he oversaw significant federal spending cuts and deregulation efforts. This role led to conflicts of interest, especially concerning agencies that regulate his businesses.
For example, SpaceX faced fines from the Federal Aviation Administration for safety violations, including operating an unapproved launch control room and using non-approved rocket fuel, totaling $633,009.
What does the future hold for Elon Musk amid growing backlash?
Musk’s entanglement in political affairs, particularly his advisory role to President Trump and leadership of DOGE, has led to significant public disapproval.
A February 2025 poll indicated that 52% of Americans held an unfavorable view of Musk, with only 29% expressing approval.
In response to the mounting criticism, reports suggest that Musk is considering stepping back from his governmental advisory role to focus on his business ventures. Such a move could be aimed at mitigating public perception that his political activities are adversely affecting Tesla’s performance.
However, given Musk’s history of unconventional decisions and resilience, it’s uncertain whether distancing himself from politics will fully quell public dissent or restore consumer confidence in Tesla.
