In a dramatic escalation of political and social tensions surrounding Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a stark warning to Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett, urging her to “tread very carefully” after Crockett made controversial remarks calling for Musk to be “taken down.”
The comments came during a nationwide virtual call hosted by the Tesla Takedown movement—a group pushing for peaceful protests and financial pressure on the electric vehicle giant by urging shareholders and owners to divest. The movement, which labels itself as nonviolent, is organizing a “Global Day of Action” on March 29—coinciding with Rep. Crockett’s birthday.
“All I want to see happen on my birthday is for Elon to be taken down,” Crockett said on the call, referencing her role on the DOGE Oversight Committee. “There is only one language that the people that are in charge understand right now, and that language is money.”
Crockett emphasized that her message was figurative and nonviolent, describing the movement as a peaceful defense of democracy. “We know that we are peaceful, loving people, and this is not about violence,” she said in an attempt to clarify her stance. But that clarification has done little to calm critics.
Bondi, appearing on Fox News, fiercely criticized Crockett’s rhetoric. “She is an elected public official, so she needs to tread very carefully because nothing will happen to Elon Musk, and we are going to fight to protect all the Tesla owners throughout this country,” Bondi stated. She continued by reaffirming her support for Tesla and vowed action against escalating acts of vandalism targeting the electric car company.
According to Bondi, these incidents include Tesla vehicles being set on fire, dealerships being vandalized with graffiti, and coordinated disruptions to EV charging stations. She labeled these acts as “domestic terrorism” and confirmed the Department of Justice is actively investigating.
“These attacks are taking place throughout our country,” Bondi told Fox host Will Cain. “We have charged multiple people. Get ready, more are coming.”
She highlighted specific cases in Oregon, Colorado, and South Carolina, where individuals have been charged and now face penalties of up to 20 years in prison. “We believe these are organized. These are not individuals out there doing this on their own. They’re targeting Tesla owners, they’re targeting Tesla dealerships. They’re targeting Elon Musk.”
Bondi further revealed that federal agencies are now probing the possibility of coordinated funding and organization behind these attacks. “We are coming after you. And if you are an organized group who is funding this, we’re going to find you too. You better look out and you better stop it.”
Joining Bondi in sounding the alarm is FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who confirmed on Wednesday that the bureau is now involved in the investigation, working in tandem with the Justice Department. Bongino echoed concerns about the nationwide scope of the attacks and the possibility of them being part of a larger anti-Tesla campaign.
The White House, under President Donald Trump, has also weighed in, condemning the attacks and referring to some of them as acts of “domestic terrorism.” Trump and his administration allege that the backlash against Musk stems from his role in influencing budget cuts, especially those tied to DOGE-driven reductions in federal programs.
Despite Crockett’s insistence that her words were metaphorical and meant to mobilize peaceful financial activism, critics say the tone of her remarks—combined with the rising number of violent incidents—sends a dangerous message.
“This is bigger than just one company or one billionaire,” Bondi emphasized. “This is about protecting our communities, our businesses, and our right to free enterprise. People can protest, but when it turns into destruction and fear, that’s where we draw the line.”
As law enforcement prepares for the upcoming “Global Day of Action,” tensions continue to rise. With political divisions sharpening and Tesla becoming a cultural lightning rod, what began as a financial protest may quickly become one of the defining legal and ideological battles of the year.