A troubling trend has been growing across the U.S. in recent days whereby criminals with a vendetta against President Donald Trump and DOGE leader Elon Musk set Tesla vehicles ablaze.
Reports of one such incident in South Carolina took a painful turn for the politically motivated arsonist as he scorched himself in the process of committing the destructive act.
According to Breitbart:
According to witnesses, the masked individual, wearing a gray jacket or hoodie, spray-painted the message “(expletive) TRUMP LONG LIVE UKRAINE” near the bank of Tesla charging stations before proceeding with his ill-fated attempt to destroy the electric vehicle chargers. The man reportedly used beer bottles as makeshift Molotov cocktails, setting them on fire and hurling them at three charging stations. However, during this act of arson, the man inadvertently set himself on fire, with witnesses reporting flames spreading across his back.
ADVERTISEMENTAs onlookers began calling 911, the masked individual fled the scene, running past a nearby Zaxby’s restaurant and towards the hotels behind it. The North Charleston police department has not yet identified or arrested the suspect, but the incident has resulted in an estimated $60,000 in damages to the Tesla charging infrastructure.
This incident appears to be part of a growing trend of vandalism and crime targeting Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, as well as President Donald Trump. Breitbart News previously reported on a man who claims to be woman that police say brought explosives to a Tesla dealership to cause murder and mayhem.
Similar acts targeting Teslas, dealerships, and owners have been reported far and wide in recent days:
BREAKING: HUNDREDS of New Yorkers have swarmed and shut down the Tesla dealer in Manhattan. Six have been arrested after occupying the showroom. Protests are erupting across America to reject Musk's billionaire regime. This is how we beat fascism.
Mass direct action. pic.twitter.com/jTQ4yxlpOd
— Planet Over Profit (@pop4climate) March 8, 2025
Dissent is a right, vandalism is not.
Attacking @Tesla and its owners is not protest but a crime.
Violence maneuvered and financed by a few, must be condemned to defend the freedom and rights of everyone !!
Maximum support for Tesla… @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/kllQGoM1rJ
— Sebastiano Ai𝕩 Carrozzo (@s_a_c99) March 10, 2025
All of the hate, propaganda, fake protests and attacks on Elon and Tesla’s brand, locations and customers will end up having the opposite effect and create the best sales advertisement. $TSLApic.twitter.com/2Ayq9rl1Un
— Tezlar (@na_option) March 11, 2025
The White House has made it clear that it takes these protests very seriously, as Trump explained this week.
According to USA Today:
Musk, who is categorized as a “special government employee,” has made sweeping cuts to the federal government, implemented mass firings and canceled billions of dollars in contracts as the head of DOGE. His work has made him and his company a target of substantial blowback.
“I think he’s been treated very unfairly by a very small group of people,” Trump said. “And I just want people to know that he can’t be penalized for being a patriot. And he’s a great patriot.”
ADVERTISEMENTTrump was asked by a reporter as he stood in front of five Tesla vehicles that had been brought to the White House for his perusal, if he would consider labeling those committing violence against Tesla owners and dealerships as “domestic terrorists.”
Here’s some additional coverage of the ongoing demonstrations:
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