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The Proud Boys and militia-linked activists appeared at smaller pro-Tesla, pro-Elon Musk counterprotests during the March 29, 2025 weekend. The events, described in David Gilbert’s March 31 WIRED report, were a response to “Tesla Takedown” demonstrations criticizing Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the dismantling of federal agencies.
“Tesla Shield” was a label for that counterprotest response, not a Tesla-operated organization. It brought together MAGA supporters, people identified by WIRED as Proud Boys members, and other far-right or militia-linked activists, with participation and tactics varying by city.
What “Tesla Shield” was
Tesla Shield referred to pro-Musk counterprotests organized around Tesla locations during the weekend of March 29, 2025. The participants were responding to Tesla Takedown demonstrations, whose organizers opposed Musk’s political influence and DOGE activities. There is no evidence in the report that Tesla created or formally managed Tesla Shield.
The counterprotests were not a single, centrally measured organization. Public calls to attend came from local Proud Boys chapters and other far-right networks, while militia-linked groups discussed disruption or infiltration in some locations.
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Tesla Takedown and Tesla Shield compared
| Aspect | Tesla Takedown | Tesla Shield counterprotests |
|---|---|---|
| Stated objective | Oppose Musk’s political role and DOGE-related cuts to federal agencies. | Support Musk, Tesla, DOGE and the Trump administration, and confront or monitor the protests. |
| Relationship to Musk | Critical of Musk’s government work and influence. | Publicly supportive of Musk and Tesla. |
| Participants identified in the report | Anti-Musk demonstrators; the report does not provide a complete membership count. | MAGA supporters, Proud Boys members, militia-linked people and other far-right activists. |
| Tactics reported | Demonstrations at Tesla sites; the wider backlash also included isolated vandalism incidents. | Counterprotests, public support, proposed information-gathering and attempted infiltration in some places. |
| Geography | Events were reported at Tesla sites in Idaho, Ohio, California, Oregon and Oklahoma. | Counterprotest activity was reported in the same broad set of locations, with different groups involved in each city. |
| Relative size | Much larger than the pro-Musk contingent where Columbus media supplied a count. | Smaller in the Columbus count; no nationwide total was established. |
What happened at the reported locations
Meridian, Idaho
David Pettinger, described as a member of the People’s Rights group, marched in front of the anti-Musk demonstrators, handed out heart-shaped stickers and wore clothing styled as a Hitler costume. WIRED quoted him saying, “My people will be free, my people will rule again.” The report also described several armed people in camouflage and body armor nearby. It did not establish that every person at the counterprotest was armed or that all of those individuals belonged to the same organization.
Columbus, Ohio
A local Proud Boys chapter urged supporters to attend and said it planned to infiltrate the protest to collect information. That statement describes an announced intention; the report does not establish that a successful infiltration occurred.
Fresno, California
Josh Fulfer, known online as Oreo Express and described by WIRED as having been at the January 6 Capitol attack, joined the counterprotest. He said, “We’re out here to show support for DOGE, Elon Musk, Tesla, and this administration.”
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Salem, Oregon
Pro-Musk supporters waved Proud Boys flags, and some wore the group’s yellow-and-black clothing. The account identifies visible symbols and clothing, not the total number of Proud Boys members present.
Oklahoma
The anti-government militia Veterans on Patrol announced on Telegram that it planned to infiltrate a Tesla Takedown protest and redirect attention toward what it called a more reasonable target. The announcement alone does not prove that the planned action took place.
How many people attended?
The only specific side-by-side crowd figures in the report concern Columbus. Local media counted more than 1,000 anti-Musk protesters and fewer than 50 pro-Musk supporters. Those are local-media estimates for that event, reported by WIRED; they are not a national tally or a measure of either movement’s membership.
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The available account does not provide comparable totals for Meridian, Fresno, Salem or Oklahoma. It therefore cannot establish the overall size of Tesla Takedown or Tesla Shield.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Were militias actually armed at Tesla dealerships?
In Meridian, WIRED reported several people in camouflage and body armor carrying weapons near the counterprotest. That is evidence of armed individuals at that site, but the report does not give a precise headcount, identify every person’s affiliation, or establish that weapons were present at all of the weekend’s Tesla events.
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Why the demonstrations happened
Tesla Takedown was part of a backlash against Musk’s work through DOGE and his role in efforts to dismantle or reduce federal agencies. The counterprotests defended Musk, Tesla and the administration against that criticism.
The wider period also included isolated reports of damage to Tesla vehicles, chargers and dealerships. President Donald Trump urged the Justice Department to treat alleged violent protesters as “domestic terrorists.” Musk said protesters were being paid, but the report presents that claim without supporting evidence. Both statements should be understood as attributed political claims, not established findings.
What the stock figure does—and does not—show
WIRED reported that Tesla’s stock price had fallen by more than 30 percent from the beginning of 2025 by the time of its March 31, 2025 publication. That is a time-specific market observation, not proof that the protests caused the decline. The report does not establish what happened to Tesla’s share price, the protest groups or their legal status after that date.
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