• Italian authorities increased security at Tesla dealerships after anarchists burned 17 EVs in Rome as part of a global anti-Musk campaign.
• The U.S. is treating similar attacks as domestic terrorism, with severe penalties for perpetrators.
• Italy’s deputy PM condemned the violence, calling it “unjustified hatred” and urging unity.
• Tesla showrooms in Germany, Sweden, and France were also targeted in coordinated far-left attacks.
• Musk’s conservative political ties, including his role in Trump’s administration, have fueled the backlash.

Italian authorities have ramped up security at Tesla dealerships nationwide after suspected far-left anarchists set fire to 17 electric vehicles in Rome early Monday as part of a coordinated global campaign of violence targeting Elon Musk’s company. The politically motivated attack — dubbed the “Tesla Takedown” movement — has spread from the U.S. to Europe, with extremists retaliating against Musk for his role in the Trump administration’s government efficiency efforts.

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini condemned the “unjustified hatred” against Tesla, calling for an end to the “season of hate and conflict” while expressing solidarity with Musk and threatened workers. The U.S. government, meanwhile, is treating similar attacks as domestic terrorism, prosecuting perpetrators with severe consequences.

The blaze at the Tesla dealership in Torre Angela, a suburb east of Rome, required hours of firefighting before it was extinguished. Drone footage revealed charred vehicle frames lined up in the parking lot, with Musk himself labeling the act “terrorism” on his social media platform, X. Italy’s anti-terrorism unit, Digos, is leading the investigation, though no arrests have been made.

A global wave of far-left violence

The Rome attack is the latest in a string of assaults on Tesla properties worldwide. In Germany, seven vehicles were torched at a dealership in Ottersberg on Saturday, while Swedish showrooms in Stockholm and Malmö were vandalized with orange paint. France saw 12 Tesla superchargers destroyed in St-Chamond, where graffiti declared an “Anti-Tesla campaign born to burn.”

The violence stems from Musk’s affiliation with conservative leaders, including President Donald Trump and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has praised Musk as “a brilliant man.” Since January, Musk has led the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), slashing federal jobs and streamlining agencies in a move that sparked backlash from left-wing activists.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has classified the attacks as “nothing short of domestic terrorism,” vowing to impose harsh penalties on perpetrators. A joint FBI-DHS bulletin obtained by CBS News warned of escalating violence, citing arson, gunfire, and vandalism in at least nine states.

Salvini slams “unjustified hatred,” calls for unity

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, a key ally of Meloni, denounced the Rome attack as senseless destruction fueled by ideological extremism. “Too much unjustified hatred against the Tesla car company,” he wrote on X. “The season of hate and conflict must come to an end as soon as possible.” Salvini’s remarks underscore growing concerns over far-left militancy, which has increasingly targeted businesses linked to conservative figures.

Despite Musk’s insistence that his DOGE role is “a very expensive job” for Tesla’s stock value, the billionaire remains a lightning rod for progressive fury. Protesters across the U.S. and Europe have chanted “Elon Musk has got to go,” while sales of Tesla vehicles in Europe plummeted 49% in early 2025 in a decline activists have celebrated.

The attacks on Tesla represent more than corporate sabotage; they are a brazen assault on free enterprise and political dissent. Far-left radicals, emboldened by their hatred of Musk’s conservative ties, have resorted to arson and vandalism—tactics that mirror domestic terrorism. As Italian authorities bolster security and U.S. prosecutors pursue harsh charges, this wave of violence must end before more livelihoods and property are destroyed. The “season of hate” Salvini warned of has gone too far — and it’s time for leaders worldwide to hold these extremists accountable.

Sources for this article include:

TheGuardian.com

CNN.com

CBSNews.com