'They're harming a great American company': Trump says violence against Tesla is 'domestic terrorism'

US President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that any violence against Tesla dealerships would be considered domestic terrorism and that offenders would face severe consequences, expressing firm support for Tesla CEO and close ally Elon Musk.

Tesla’s stock rose nearly 4 per cent on Tuesday, recovering from its steepest one-day drop in four and a half years. This comes after Trump’s appearance with Musk at the White House, where they selected a new Tesla for government use.

Recently, activists have launched “Tesla Takedown” protests, opposing Musk’s involvement in major federal job cuts and the cancellation of contracts funding humanitarian programmes. Musk, the world’s richest person, currently leads the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).

“They’re harming a great American company,” Trump said at the White House, referring to the demonstrators, alongside Musk, who was wearing a black “Make America Great Again” baseball cap.

Nearby, a number of Tesla vehicles were lined up on the driveway between the mansion and the South Lawn.

“Let me tell you, you do it to Tesla, and you do it to any company, we’re going to catch you, and … you’re going to go through hell,” Trump said.

Last week, about 350 people protested outside a Tesla dealership in Portland, Oregon. Earlier in March, nine people were arrested during a noisy demonstration at a Tesla dealership in New York City.

There have also been reports of vandalism at Tesla showrooms and on vehicles, which are being investigated.

A group claiming to organise the Tesla Takedown protests said on the social media platform Bluesky that it supports peaceful demonstrations and opposes violence.