Radical Telegram Channel Shares Video of Vandalism Targeting Elon Musk with Death Threat
Executive Summary
A radical Telegram channel posted a video showing an individual spray-painting “Elon Must Die” on a Tesla Cybertruck at a Brooklyn, NY, Tesla showroom. The post was labeled as an “anonymous submission” and described as being “for educational purposes.” This incident comes amid an escalating series of attacks targeting Tesla dealerships and properties across the United States, with similar vandalism reported in Loveland, Colorado, where a Tesla dealership was defaced with graffiti and suffered attempted arson. Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and ATF, have been contacted to investigate the Colorado attack.
Analysis
The targeting of Elon Musk and Tesla properties aligns with a broader trend of increasing hostility toward Musk, particularly from radicalized elements who oppose his alignment with the Trump administration, his support for the far-right AfD party in Germany, and his controversial leadership of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The use of Telegram to distribute footage of the Brooklyn vandalism suggests an intent to inspire further acts of direct action against Musk and Tesla.
The Colorado incident, which involved spray-painted messages and broken glass, is part of a larger wave of vandalism against Tesla properties, including recent attacks in Florida, Oregon, Canada, and Australia. The repeated targeting of Tesla locations raises concerns about organized campaigns aimed at Musk’s businesses, particularly as DOGE faces increasing legal scrutiny over its access to sensitive government financial data.
The use of explicitly violent rhetoric—“Elon Must Die”—marks a shift from previous Tesla-related vandalism, which primarily focused on damaging property. The elevation to direct death threats could signal the potential for further escalation, possibly inspiring lone actors or small groups to take more extreme measures.
