Tesla Owner Vandalized Amid Anti-Musk Sentiment
Shawn Freed, a Tesla owner from upstate New York, experienced vandalism on his car amid growing anti-Elon Musk sentiment.
Shawn Freed, an engineer and Tesla owner, was recently targeted when his vehicle was defaced with a message written in black Sharpie marker while parked in downtown Syracuse, New York. The message read, “This car supports Nazis,” a direct result of the backlash against Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s political involvement and his association with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Freed expressed his frustration on ‘America’s Newsroom,’ stating, “Regular people like myself are getting caught up in this. It’s sad to me that they are attacking Tesla, the company, because they disagree with the opinions of an individual. Tesla owners like myself have nothing to do with this.”
The incident occurred while Freed’s wife and mother-in-law were attending a show in downtown Syracuse. Upon their return, they discovered the disturbing message on the hood of the car. Although Freed was able to remove the writing using rubbing alcohol, the event left a lasting impact on his sense of security. “It doesn’t give me any hesitation [to drive the car]. However, I have a family,” he said. “It does give me hesitation for whether they are going to continue to be safe.”
The vandalism against Freed’s Tesla is part of a broader trend of attacks on Tesla vehicles amid anti-Musk sentiment. Earlier this week, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced charges against three individuals accused of arson attacks on Tesla property. The suspects allegedly used Molotov cocktails to destroy Tesla vehicles, charging stations, and dealerships. Bondi described these attacks as “nothing short of domestic terrorism” and promised to pursue those coordinating or funding such crimes.
President Donald Trump also weighed in on the issue, expressing his support for Musk and Tesla on Truth Social. He called for severe penalties for those involved in the attacks, stating, “I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20-year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla.”
Despite the incident, Freed remains committed to driving his Tesla but hopes for stronger action from law enforcement. He mentioned receiving a potential lead on the vandal from someone in London, who recognized the jacket of the person in a photo and believed they attended Syracuse University. Freed plans to follow up with the authorities on this lead.
The incident has changed Freed’s perspective on whether he was specifically targeted. “I didn’t before,” he said. “When you have an experience like this, you start to feel like maybe you are.”