A wave of protests has targeted Tesla dealerships and vehicles in opposition to tech entrepreneur Elon Musk’s high-profile role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative aimed at slashing federal waste amid a national debt in excess of $36 trillion.
A poll of 37,943 readers of The Epoch Times shows that the vast majority oppose the protests and support DOGE’s mission.
Demonstrations and Destruction
The “Tesla Takedown” movement, which began with scattered demonstrations earlier this year against DOGE-related layoffs and spending cuts, launched its most coordinated effort on March 29 by targeting all 277 Tesla showrooms and service centers in the United States.Protesters aimed to pressure Musk by exploiting concerns over DOGE-related layoffs and spending cuts. Photos shared on social media showed demonstrators brandishing signs reading “Honk if you hate Elon” and “The people stand up, and Tesla stock falls down!”
Amid this unrest, 90 percent of Epoch Times readers said the protests do not reflect their views on Musk or DOGE. Only 9 percent expressed sympathy with the protests and 1 percent remained neutral.
Similarly, 81 percent of respondents disagreed with the statement that the Justice Department’s calling the attacks “domestic terrorism” was too harsh. Just 18 percent found the label excessive.
Musk has expressed bewilderment over the degree of violence associated with the anti-Tesla movement.
“I understand if you don’t want to buy our product, but you don’t have to burn it down,“ Musk said at a March 20 company meeting. ”That’s a bit unreasonable.”
Boom, Bust, and DOGE
Investors initially cheered when Trump appointed Musk to lead DOGE in November 2024 after securing a strong mandate from voters to undertake bold government reform and revitalize the economy. Tesla’s stock surged by 70 percent between the election and inauguration, adding more than $560 billion in market value, likely buoyed by optimism about Musk’s role in the Trump administration and the president’s pro-business agenda.In recent statements, Musk acknowledged that political backlash to DOGE may be driving the Tesla downturn, but he maintained that he thinks the slump is temporary.
“Long term, I think Tesla stock’s going to do fine,” he said, calling the current dip “a buying opportunity.”
Reader sentiment on the long-run effect of the protests is mixed. When asked whether the demonstrations would hurt Tesla’s stock long-term, 29 percent were neutral, 24 percent said it would, and 47 percent said it wouldn’t. On the question whether sales would decline through 2026, respondents were similarly divided—36 percent were neutral, 30 percent agreed, and 34 percent expressed disagreement.
Musk has argued that DOGE’s mission of cutting wasteful spending and reducing federal deficits is crucial to the long-term financial health of the United States.
Brand Identity, Trade-Ins, Innovation Concerns
As political tensions around Musk’s role in Washington grow, so too does debate over how deeply his personal identity and government service are now embedded in Tesla’s brand. Critics accuse Musk of politicizing the company, while supporters say it’s the political left’s targeting of Musk and Tesla that has put the company in the spotlight.
When asked whether Musk’s political role has become inseparable from the Tesla brand, readers were divided. Thirty-seven percent said it has, 42 percent said it hasn’t, and 21 percent said they were unsure.
Supporters of DOGE have dismissed such claims as fear-mongering, while Trump has repeatedly stated that core programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid will remain untouched by Musk’s government efficiency thrust.
Musk acknowledged at the March company meeting that Tesla was facing boycott and protest pressure but predicted a return to growth. He projected that Tesla’s global fleet will surpass 10 million vehicles next year, up from 7 million this year.
Meanwhile, readers of The Epoch Times were asked in the poll whether they believe the trend of politically motivated Tesla trade-ins would continue. Thirty-four percent were neutral, 37 percent agreed, and 39 percent disagreed, suggesting uncertainty about whether the political controversy surrounding Musk will translate into long-term shifts in Tesla customer loyalty.
When asked whether Musk’s work with DOGE is hurting Tesla’s innovation, a clear majority said no. Fifty-seven percent said it is not, 18 percent said it is, and 25 percent were unsure, reflecting continued confidence in the company’s engineering and product development prowess, and indicating that most respondents believe that Tesla’s momentum will endure the current political storm.
Tesla Support Increasing?
The survey revealed a strong uptick in consumer interest in Tesla despite months of protests and negative headlines, suggesting that the backlash is off-putting to many—and driving more people to throw their weight behind Musk as a form of counter-protest.When asked whether they were more or less likely to buy a Tesla than three months ago, a majority of respondents said they were now more likely to make a purchase. Specifically, 26 percent said they were more likely to buy a Tesla, and another 26 percent said they were much more likely to. Only 5 percent said they were less likely, 8 percent said they were much less likely, and 35 percent were undecided.
Write-in responses further illuminated the motivations behind this jump in interest. Many said they support Tesla because they admire Musk’s leadership, often describing him as a visionary, a reformer, and a patriot. Others emphasized Tesla’s identity as an American company, praising it as a symbol of homegrown innovation and job creation.
Some said they had never previously considered an electric vehicle but were now looking at Tesla precisely because it is being targeted by what they described as political extremists. Others said they couldn’t afford a Tesla but would gladly buy one if their financial situation were to change, citing fixed incomes, retirement, or inflation.
There was also a segment of readers who expressed no interest in electric vehicles at all, saying they remained committed to gasoline vehicles for the foreseeable future. These respondents cited practical concerns such as range anxiety, charging infrastructure, and winter performance—especially in rural areas. Still, many of them expressed respect for Musk and sympathy for what they described as a radical and unjustified campaign to harm his company and undermine his efforts to help Trump reform the government.
Investing as a Political Statement
When it came to investing in Tesla stock, readers expressed cautious, but real, optimism. Twenty-one percent said they were very likely to buy Tesla shares in the next 12 months, while another 24 percent said they were likely to do so. Thirty-two percent remained undecided, while 10 percent said they were unlikely and 13 percent said they were very unlikely to invest.Among likely investors, many who provided write-in responses described their decision as both a financial opportunity and a political statement. Several characterized buying Tesla stock as a show of solidarity with Musk, praising his work to combat government waste and describing their investment as an act of patriotism. Some said they were first-time investors who felt compelled to support Tesla during what they saw as an unfair political and media onslaught.
Others saw Tesla as a smart long-term bet. They cited Tesla’s global reach, brand power, and continued innovation as reasons to buy low now and wait for a rebound.
Some respondents said they had no plans to invest—not because of Musk or the company—but because they don’t buy individual stocks. Many already held Tesla shares through mutual funds or retirement accounts. Others said they would invest if they could but were currently constrained by inflation, job loss, or financial priorities.
Still, across nearly all categories, admiration for Musk and Tesla remained strong—even among those unable or unwilling to act financially.
Ultimately, the survey reveals that for many Americans, Tesla is no longer just a car company. It has become a stand-in for broader cultural and political ideals.
