Linda Koistinen and her husband Dale stood outside a Tesla dealership in Berkeley, California, on Saturday, protesting against the person behind the company—Elon Musk. Their protest was not directed at Tesla’s electric vehicles but at Musk’s efforts to disrupt and dismantle large portions of the US government.

"It’s a place where we can make a visible stand against him personally," Ms. Koistinen told the BBC. "He should not be deciding the fate of our democracy by disassembling our government piece by piece. It’s not right."

#TeslaTakeover Spreads Across the U.S.

Organizers dubbed the protest movement #TeslaTakeover, encouraging people to gather outside Tesla showrooms. Protesters planned their meetups largely on Bluesky, a social media platform competing with Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter).

In some locations, turnout was minimal, with groups barely numbering a dozen. People in Washington D.C., Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, and Lyndhurst, Ohio, braved cold and snowy conditions. Protesters held signs reading "Say no to Doge" and "Deport Musk."

The Berkeley protest, known for high electric vehicle ownership, drew 200 participants.

Musk’s Controversial Doge Program

Elon Musk’s White House-backed project, dubbed Doge (Department of Government Efficiency), sends teams into government agencies. These teams review data and advocate for significant spending cuts and "clawbacks" on already allocated funds.

President Donald Trump, who received substantial campaign contributions from Musk, supports freezing hiring and dismissing thousands of federal employees.

Critics Speak Out

Musk claims that he is uncovering wasteful spending and streamlining governmental operations. However, many believe he is obstructing government functions and overstepping boundaries by accessing private information.

"It’s just really grinding on the mind," Dale Koistinen said. "I’m 84 years old. This is unbelievable. This is a takeover of our government."

Musk is also the primary owner of SpaceX, Neuralink, and the Boring Company. Tesla remains his most renowned creation, making it the focal point of criticism.

Pressure mounts on Tesla

Days after the protests began, concerned American citizens pressed others to divest in Tesla stock and sell their Tesla vehicles. Singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow shared a video on Instagram of her Tesla being towed away.

"There comes a time when you have to decide who you are willing to align with," she wrote in the caption. "So long Tesla." Crow pledged to contribute the car’s proceeds to National Public Radio, a frequent target of Musk’s criticism.

Since Trump’s inauguration, the company’s shares fell by 30%, following a December all-time high.

Support from Prominent Figures

The protests were organized by well-known figures including disinformation researcher Joan Donovan and actor Alex Winter, who played Bill in the 1980s film "Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure".

Teah Jackson spotted the Berkeley protest on an outing with her girlfriend and joined in support.

"It’s hopeful," Jackson told the BBC. "It’s an acknowledgment that people aren’t going to go down without a fight and that they’re going to continue to push for what they believe in."