On Saturday, protesters assembled outside Tesla dealerships nationwide in reaction to Elon Musk’s attempts to cut government spending under President Donald Trump.

Demonstrations featuring groups of up to 100 individuals occurred outside Tesla showrooms in various cities, including New York, Seattle, Kansas City, and throughout California. Organizers claimed these protests happened in multiple locations.

Though the protests were widespread, they underscored the potential dangers for Tesla resulting from Musk’s strong ties to Trump’s extreme right-wing agenda. Many demonstrators brandished signs comparing the Trump administration to Nazis—a claim that Musk has fervently rejected in the past.

Musk heads the president’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” or Doge, a name drawn from a popular internet meme. Doge’s activities, which include swiftly dismantling government agencies and laying off federal employees en masse across the country, have been criticized as unconstitutional by some legal experts.

Some Tesla investors are questioning whether Musk’s affiliation with the Trump administration—and his spending exceeding $200 million on the presidential campaign—will negatively impact sales, especially in more liberal regions of the country. States like California have historically been the largest markets for electric vehicles, while the Republican party and the Trump administration have shown resistance to this technology.

American artist Sheryl Crow shared a video on Saturday bidding farewell to a Tesla that was being towed away. She conveyed that she sold her car and donated the proceeds to National Public Radio (NPR), which “is facing threats from President Musk.”

“My parents always said… you are who you associate with,” she remarked. “There comes a point when you must choose whom you will align with. Goodbye, Tesla.”

Insiders from Tesla maintain that the company operates independently from its CEO. Nonetheless, its rising market value—bolstered by previously rapid sales—has significantly contributed to Musk’s wealth, which aids in financing Trump’s election campaign.

According to Bloomberg, Tesla shares constitute approximately one-third of Musk’s wealth. His stake in private aerospace firm SpaceX accounts for another third, while the remainder is linked to investments in xAI, the X social network, the tunneling venture Boring Company, and the neural interface company Neuralink. Musk has leveraged his Tesla and SpaceX shares to secure personal loans totaling billions.

In 2024, Tesla reported its first-ever annual sales decline, reflecting broader challenges in the global automotive sector. It remains uncertain if Musk’s right-leaning politics impacted this downturn, as the company might offset the loss of left-leaning customers by attracting new supporters from conservative circles.

Some analysts have correlated a notable drop in Tesla sales in Germany with Musk’s unexpected endorsement of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in December. German sales plummeted by 60% year-over-year in January, although other factors may also impact delivery schedules.

Tesla could also face vulnerabilities in various forms due to political repercussions. In the UK, Ed Davey, the head of the Liberal Democrats, suggested this week that the Labour government should impose tariffs on Tesla vehicles in retaliation for the White House’s steel import tariffs.

Tesla was reached for comment.