Elon Musk is facing significant backlash as concerns grow over his leadership of Tesla. Protests labeled "Tesla Takedown" have erupted at Tesla dealerships across the United States and Europe. Some Tesla vehicles have even been vandalized amid rising tensions. Former President Donald Trump has responded by suggesting that those who damage Teslas could be charged with "domestic terrorism."
Musk himself has acknowledged the challenges he faces in running his companies. In a recent interview, he expressed disbelief at his current situation, saying he is managing his enterprises "with great difficulty." This comes as Tesla’s stock has taken a hit, losing over 25% of its value since the start of the year.
Analysts are sounding alarms about Tesla’s performance. Dan Ives, a Wedbush analyst, described the company’s recent numbers as "a disaster on every metric." He noted that Musk’s increasing political involvement, particularly with cryptocurrency like DOGE, is hurting the Tesla brand.
In light of the troubling sales figures, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, reached out to public pension funds. She warned them that Tesla’s latest sales numbers are "shaping up to be abysmal" and urged them to scrutinize their investments in the company. Weingarten pointed out that Musk’s focus on political activities seems to conflict with Tesla’s business interests.
The situation has escalated to the point where the New York City comptroller has announced plans to sue Tesla. He claims that the city’s pension systems have lost over $300 million in just three months due to the plummeting stock price. Comptroller Brad Lander criticized Musk, saying he is so distracted that he is leading Tesla toward financial disaster.
As the situation unfolds, many are watching closely to see how Musk and Tesla will respond to these mounting pressures.