As European resentment against Elon Musk’s EU “meddling” and support of Donald Trump grows, a Tesla store in southern France was set on fire during a suspected arson attempt.
Authorities are considering the early-morning fire at the Tesla store as a planned attack that destroyed 12 cars valued at an incredible £550,000.
According to the local prosecutor’s office, the dealership in Plaisance-du-Touch, close to Toulouse, the fire started at approximately 3:15 a.m.
An inquiry into “the destruction and damage of property belonging to others by dangerous means” has been opened, officials revealed.
The alleged arson coincides with rising European anxieties about Elon Musk’s alleged meddling in EU matters and his ties to US President Donald Trump, especially in relation to the divisive topic of US military assistance to Ukraine.
Musk’s political activity has angered European politicians, particularly after he publicly backed Trump and made disparaging comments about EU policy.
Last month, French President Emmanuel Macron emphasised the difficulties presented by powerful individuals undermining European democratic institutions, but he did not specifically mention Musk.
‘Ten years ago, who could have imagined it if we had been told that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new international reactionary movement and intervene directly in elections, including in Germany,’ Macron told French ambassadors gathered in Paris.
France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, called on the European Union to take firmer action against Musk’s use of his social platform, alleging that he was ‘interfering’ in European countries’ domestic politics.
President Macron’s comments came after Elon Musk also openly supported right-wing, eurosceptic parties, including Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD), prompting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to label the billionaire’s endorsements as ‘really disgusting.’
The suspected act of protests also comes after a Norwegian fuel giant vowed not to deliver a litre more to US warships over Trump’s recent showdown with Zelensky.
Gunnar Gran, chief executive of Haltbakk Bunkers, told Norwegian maritime news outlet Kystens Næringsliv: ‘Not a litre will be delivered [to US ships] until Trump is finished.. We run a private company and choose our customers!’
He went on to further explain that his company stopped supplying Russian customers following the invasion of Ukraine – a decision that hurt revenue streams but remained in line with company values.
‘We lost a lot of revenue. But we have a moral compass. Now the United States is excluded based on their behaviour towards the Ukrainians,’ Gran said.
‘We support Ukraine. We have many Ukrainian employees, and we know how terribly this war affects them and their families.’
The combination of these incidents has stoked public indignation throughout Europe, which has shown up as vandalism against Tesla properties and a drop in the company’s sales in important European countries.
Compared to the same period last year, Tesla’s sales in France fell by 45% in the first two months of this year.
The alleged arson incident in France is a component of a larger trend of animosity directed towards Tesla.
In recent weeks, Tesla dealerships and outlets have been targeted by vandals and arsonists across two continents, prompting investigations by authorities, including the FBI.
Musk’s engagement in the geopolitical sphere has also sparked serious worries.
The European Commission is looking at alternate satellite communication options for Kyiv as a result of his alleged threats to remove Starlink services from Ukraine.
To make matters worse, Musk was given the responsibility of cutting federal expenditure when Trump selected him as the director of the recently created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in January.
One of Elon Musk’s initial actions was advocating for a 90-day freeze on all foreign aid, directly impacting the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Musk described USAID as a ‘viper’s nest of radical-Left Marxists who hate America,’ and his team reportedly accessed classified databases within the agency.
The future of USAID-funded initiatives, such as those involving Musk’s own business, Starlink, which has received at least $1 million from USAID over the last four years to provide internet connection in impoverished nations and conflict zones, has been called into question by this action.
Citing a need to re-evaluate agreements, President Trump abruptly cancelled all US military aid to Ukraine, a move that has alarmed NATO members and given Russia more confidence.
Musk’s involvement in DOGE has fueled a wave of anti-Tesla demonstrations, with activists staging protests outside Tesla dealerships across the US and Europe.
Protesters have vowed to boycott Tesla in a bid to inflict as much pain on the company financially.
‘We can get back at Elon,’ said Nathan Phillips, a 58-year-old environmental activist from Massachusetts, during a protest in Boston.
‘We can impose direct economic damage on Tesla by showing up at showrooms everywhere, boycotting Tesla, and telling everyone else to get out, sell your stocks, sell your Teslas,’ he told reporters.
The movement, dubbed ‘Tesla Takedown,’ has seen over 50 demonstrations across the US in cities including New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, Tucson, and Palo Alto – the home of Tesla’s headquarters.
Protests have also been reported in Spain, Portugal, and the UK.
In what Jewish organisations think is a startling increase in anti-Semitism, some Tesla owners have complained that their cars have been vandalised, with swastikas spray-painted on them.
Musk, who has regularly engaged in online arguments with detractors, has dismissed the criticism, asserting that Tesla’s reputation and brand are still strong in spite of the controversy.
The White House defended Musk and Trump in the face of growing discontent, emphasising that the demonstrations would not stop their ambitions.
‘Protests will not deter President Trump and Musk from delivering on the promise to establish DOGE and make our federal government more efficient and more accountable to the hardworking American taxpayers across the country,’ spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement.
The event highlights the mounting criticism of Musk’s political involvement and its possible impact on his economic endeavours in Europe, even as investigations into the alleged arson attack continue.
Although authorities have not yet connected the fire to the larger demonstrations, the timing has sparked concerns that Tesla may become a more frequent target for vandalism and political activities.
Source: The Daily Mail
