Canadians and Americans are ditching Tesla, many choosing to distance themselves from CEO Elon Musk and his close ties to U.S. President Donald Trump amid ongoing trade tensions.
For months, Trump’s “America First” agenda, which frequently placed Canadian interests at odds with U.S. policies, has left a bitter taste for Canadians. Since December 2024, the president has been relentless with tariff threats against Canada, his latest announcement being Tuesday morning doubling levies on steel and aluminum to 50 per cent in retaliation to Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s 25 per cent surcharge on electricity to the U.S.
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Since his inauguration in January, Trump has played a significant role in how Musk, who has become his senior advisor, is viewed. The automaker CEO has even become problematic to many beyond American borders, particularly due to his proximity to the president’s divisive rhetoric and policies.
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The result of their close-knit bond amid the trade war is evident in Tesla’s plummeting stocks, which were down more than 15 per cent by the end of Monday, marking the biggest single-day drop in Tesla shares since 2020, and down more than 50 per cent from a mid-December peak.
Early Tuesday morning, Trump came to Musk’s defence on Truth Social, accusing people of “illegally and collusively” wanting to boycott Tesla and vowing to show his support for the billionaire with a big purchase.
“I’m going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American,” Trump wrote online.
“Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also confirmed Tuesday afternoon that a Tesla vehicle was on its way to the White House for Trump’s viewing.
“He’s definitely going to buy one,” she said to reporters.
“Full market price,” Leavitt added.
Some Americans are uneasy about Musk’s connection to the president amid heightened tensions, and are speaking out against Trump saying it’s “illegal” to boycott the car company.
“It is not illegal to boycott Tesla, it is a virtue or even a duty if you see democracy in danger by which it is being boycotted,” one user on X said.
“I don’t own a Tesla, but I feel like I should support the boycott. So, I canceled my Uber today because it was a Tesla,” another user on X wrote.
Meanwhile, in Boston, Brookline Police appealed to the public in search of a man intentionally tagging Tesla vehicles with Elon Musk stickers.
We are looking to identify this suspect who was seen tagging Tesla vehicles with Elon Musk decals.
— Brookline PD (@BrooklineMAPD) March 4, 2025
When confronted the suspect claimed he has the right to deface the property of others because it's his “free speech.”
Contact Detective Ryan McCarthy 617-730-2710 with any info. pic.twitter.com/OWLXPJI9Bb
According to the Boston Herald, he has since been arrested and charged with defacing property.
In Canada, Musk’s seemingly unwavering support for Trump has prompted some consumers to look for alternatives to Tesla, many feeling that the company’s leadership does not align with Canadian values of inclusivity, diplomacy, and progressive politics.
“I am def not considering buying a tesla,” one Reddit user said in a thread for Canadians. “Ashamed to be seen in one!”
“I have a Tesla and love the car but am finding that I don’t really want anything to do with it now. It’s tainted,” another user said.
“Just bought an EV a couple months ago. Didn’t even consider a Tesla. Sh*tty quality, over-priced, and run by one of the world’s worst human beings? Noooo thank you,” another user wrote on the platform.
An X user in B.C. even noticed a Tesla with an Anti-Elon Tesla Club bumper sticker and that all of the car’s Tesla emblems were replaced with maple leaves.
🚴♂️ Tried to charge my e-bike at a Tesla station (spoiler: didn’t work) and stumbled upon an Anti-Elon Tesla Club! This owner replaced all the Tesla logos with a Canadian maple leaf 🍁 Bold move. People were getting out of their cars to get pictures. 🤔 #Tesla #Canada #NorthVan pic.twitter.com/nQTo7lMBMg
— Mark Teasdale ★ (@MarksGonePublic) March 11, 2025
And back in February, even NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh told reporters his government would slap a 100 per cent trade tax on all Tesla products.
