A group of House Republicans, led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, is pushing the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI to treat what they see as a rising wave of hate against Elon Musk and his companies as domestic terrorism. These lawmakers are especially concerned about the growing incidents of vandalism and arson targeting Tesla, which they believe are part of a broader campaign against Musk.
Tesla vehicles and showrooms have become frequent targets of attacks, including acts of vandalism and arson, as protests against Musk’s work intensify. These attacks are seen by some Republicans as acts of hatred directed at Musk and his companies, with many tying them to his actions dismantling government agencies and pushing for more efficient government structures.
Greene and other Republican lawmakers sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi, calling for an investigation into the “organized attacks” on Musk and Tesla. They are demanding that the DOJ and FBI treat these incidents as acts of domestic terrorism, asking questions about who is behind the attacks and whether any Democratic-affiliated organizations may be involved.
On X (formerly Twitter), Greene wrote, “Who is behind it? Who is funding it? Is there a link with Democrat-leaning NGOs?” She implied that the attacks could be the result of a larger conspiracy, though no evidence was presented to support this claim.
The letter cited reports, including statements from Musk, which suggest that some of these acts of vandalism could be linked to Democrat-affiliated NGOs. However, the lawmakers did not provide direct evidence for these claims.
Greene’s involvement in the letter has raised ethical concerns, as she owns stock in Tesla. Critics argue that her actions may violate House ethics rules, which prohibit lawmakers from taking official actions that would benefit their personal financial interests. Campaign finance attorney Brett Kappel told Forbes that her involvement in the letter could present a “serious ethics issue.”
In response, Greene’s spokesperson, Nick Dyer, dismissed these concerns, saying that her focus is on what they view as domestic terrorism. He criticized reporters questioning the ethics of the letter, accusing them of being “Democrat trolls.”
President Donald Trump also joined the conversation, stating that those responsible for vandalizing Tesla vehicles should be labeled “domestic terrorists.” Trump strongly supported Musk and his work, promising to take action against those behind the attacks.
“I’ll do it,” Trump said when asked if he would label the vandals as terrorists. “I’m going to stop them… because they’re harming a great American company.” He continued, “When you hurt an American company, especially one that creates so many jobs, you’re going to face serious consequences.”
At the same event, Musk announced that Tesla plans to double its vehicle production in the U.S. over the next two years, crediting President Trump’s policies and his faith in America for the company’s success.
