Across the United States protests targeting Tesla have been occurring ramping up significantly, largely driven by opposition to Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE). These demonstrations, often referred to as the "Tesla Takedown" movement, focus on Musk’s influence in implementing significant cuts to the federal workforce and government spending, which protesters argue “undermine democracy and public services.”
The protests have taken place outside Tesla dealerships and showrooms in cities like New York, Seattle, Boston, Portland, and across California, with groups ranging from dozens to hundreds of participants. Demonstrators have carried signs with messages like “Dethrone Musk,” “Boycott Tesla,” and “Defund Musk,” aiming to hurt Tesla’s brand and stock value as a way to pressure Musk financially. Some protests have remained peaceful, featuring chants and picketing, while others have escalated into vandalism, including arson at charging stations, graffiti on vehicles, and even gunfire at dealerships. For example, incidents in early March 2025 involved Molotov cocktails thrown at Tesla facilities in South Carolina and Colorado, and Tesla Cybertrucks being set on fire or defaced with messages like “F--- Musk.”
In a video segment, Joe Rogan claims the “protesters” torching Teslas are being bankrolled by NGOs.
“It’s funded by NGOs. That’s where it gets really creepy. Tesla fires are funded by NGOs.”
Rogan pointed out the irony, saying these so-called environmental activists are actually causing massive harm to the environment, because burning Tesla batteries is so toxic it’s like “a thousand jet airplanes flying overhead for a year.”
“They organize protests. Different NGOs do, all funded by the government, all funded by taxpayer money in this weird way,” Rogan said.
The backlash on Tesla stems from Musk’s close association with President Donald Trump, who has publicly supported Tesla amid these events, even vowing to label violent acts against the company as “domestic terrorism.” Musk has claimed, without specific evidence, that these protests are funded by left-wing groups and billionaires like George Soros, while organizers like Valerie Costa, a Seattle-based activist, insist the movement is grassroots and focused on peaceful dissent. Tesla’s sales have reportedly declined—down 16% in the U.S. between December 2024 and January 2025, and 50% in Europe in January—partly attributed to this negative sentiment, though competition in the EV market also plays a role. The company’s stock has lost significant value, dropping about 40% since the start of 2025, reflecting both market trends and the impact of these protests.
Upon further inspection to find the organizer for the upcoming protest of Tesla in Austin, I discovered Nevin Kamith who is pictured below.
Kamath, the initial founder of the nonprofits #ResistTrump and #ResistAustin, asserts that both organizations are "nonpartisan." Prior to activism, Kamath served as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California before transitioning to a role as a Senior Associate at McKinsey & Co. Kamath earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and later obtained a law degree from Harvard University
Nevin's activism against Trump seems to have reached its height around 2020 in Austin, coinciding with a period when he apparently deepened his engagement in political activism following a 5-month sabbatical to "explore public service." After this break, Kamath’s LinkedIn profile suggests he started establishing nonprofits within the political sphere
One may ask…. Is Nevin part of a network of people who are creating these protests around the United States against Tesla? If so, the FBI should question the protest organizers. Going through Nevin’s PowerPoint presentations for his 501’s indicates that he clearly has been involved in some formal training.
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