Trump Warns That Violence Against Tesla Dealerships Will Be Deemed Domestic Terrorism

President Donald Trump, in solidarity with Tesla owner Elon Musk, warned on Tuesday that protesters who commit violence at Tesla dealerships will be labeled “domestic terrorists.”

Asked by a reporter about authorizing such a label, Trump answered firmly: “I will do that, I’ll do it. I’m going to stop them.”

In recent weeks, Tesla locations in the U.S. have seen a string of attacks. For instance, a Colorado transgender-identifying man was arrested last month and charged with one count of malicious destruction of property after having spray-painted “Nazi” on a Tesla sign and thrown Molotov cocktails in a Tesla parking lot. The suspect visited the store, in Loveland, Colo., more than once.

Tesla vehicles and charging stations have also been vandalized. Four Tesla Cybertrucks in Seattle and seven charging stations near Boston were recently set on fire.