'Astroturf': Critics speculate Tesla protests are not a grassroots movement, but carefully organized campaign
'Who is funding and organizing all these paid protests?' Musk asked on X
By Emma Colton Fox News
Published March 30, 2025 1:02pm EDT
Protests unfolded outside of Tesla showrooms across the country this weekend over Elon Musk's role helping lead President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, sparking questions to fly as to who is funding the purported "grassroots" demonstrations.
"Who is funding and organizing all these paid protests?" Musk posted to X early Sunday morning, accompanied by a video clip of podcast host Joe Rogan discussing left-wing protests in recent days.
A "Tesla Takedown" movement formed in recent days, with more than 200 protests planned on Saturday in the U.S., and another few hundred planned protests in Canada and Europe as part of the "global day of action." In the U.S. the protests slated for Saturday were promoted by actors, filmmakers, congressional legislators, academics and activists who led a "mass mobilizing call" last week to rally support, and described in the media as a "grassroots" effort to buck Musk and Trump, while working to tank Tesla's stock.
Tesla locations have faced violence in recent weeks as Musk and his DOGE team investigate federal agencies in search of government overspending, fraud and mismanagement, while critics accuse the Trump administration of creating an "oligarchy" by tapping the billionaire to help streamline federal government operations.
DOGE is a temporary cross-departmental organization that was established to slim down and streamline the federal government. The group will be dissolved on July 4, 2026.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/astroturf-critics-speculate-tesla-protests-not-grassroots-movement-carefully-organized-campaign
