President Donald Trump suggested on Friday that recent attacks on Tesla cars and property have been more harmful than the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He emphasized that the alleged Tesla attackers should be labeled as “terrorists.”
Protests against Elon Musk’s efforts to reduce the federal government have targeted Tesla, where Musk remains CEO. While many protests at Tesla showrooms have remained peaceful, some have involved vandalism and arson, including setting cars on fire.
The Trump administration has condemned the violence and encouraged Americans to buy from Musk’s company. The president himself bought a Tesla on the White House South Lawn to boost car sales.
On Thursday, Attorney General Pam Bondi moved to charge three people for allegedly destroying Tesla property with molotov cocktails, citing “domestic terrorism.” Trump on Friday described these individuals as terrorists during remarks in the Oval Office.
Unprompted, Trump also referenced the Capitol riot, stating, “You didn’t have that on January 6, I can tell you,” adding that “nobody was killed” during the January 6 attack except for Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by Capitol police. However, one woman was crushed to death, and several police officers died by suicide following the attack. Roughly 140 Capitol police officers were injured. There have been no reports of deaths or serious injuries related to the Tesla protests.
From the start of his administration, Trump has sought clemency for individuals charged in relation to the January 6 attack, issuing pardons for about 1,500 people who stormed the Capitol. The president has suggested harsh penalties for individuals involved in attacks against Tesla, even suggesting in a Truth Social post that they should serve 20 years in El Salvadorian prisons.
— news from POLITCO