(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .



The Hypocrisy of Power: Trump, Musk, and the "Illegal" Tesla Boycotts [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-03-19

Donald Trump has never been one to shy away from bending reality to fit his narrative. Now, as Vice President in the chaotic administration of President Elon Musk, he’s once again proving that laws, principles, and even basic logic mean nothing to him—only power and personal gain. His latest tantrum? Calling the nationwide boycott of Tesla “illegal” simply because it doesn’t serve his interests, while simultaneously threatening businesses that refuse to bend to his will.

The Tesla Boycott: A Grassroots Rejection of Corruption

It didn’t take long for Americans to respond to Musk’s authoritarian overreach as President. His draconian policies, blatant disregard for democratic norms, and corporate-backed attacks on workers' rights have fueled a widespread movement to boycott Tesla—a brand once associated with innovation but now tainted by its billionaire CEO’s thirst for unchecked power.

Consumers, investors, and activists alike have decided to take a stand. Tesla sales have plummeted as people refuse to support a company whose leader is actively undermining American democracy. Unions have distanced themselves, workers have begun organizing against his exploitative labor practices, and longtime Tesla supporters have traded in their vehicles for competitors' models.

Trump's Hypocrisy: When Boycotts Are "Illegal" but Threats Are Fine

Donald Trump’s response? A predictable outburst of hypocrisy and authoritarian rhetoric. He’s declared these boycotts “illegal,” without citing any actual law to back his claim. Why? Because for Trump and Musk, laws only exist to serve them—not to apply to them.

Let’s be clear: Boycotts are a form of free speech, a fundamental right protected under the First Amendment. The American people have every right to decide where to spend their money. Yet, when Trump sees his own interests threatened, he suddenly decides that consumer choice is a crime.

Contrast this with his long history of personally attacking companies—public and private—when they don’t cater to his demands. When news outlets publish stories he doesn’t like, he calls for their advertisers to be punished. When private corporations refuse to comply with his administration’s illegal orders, he threatens them with lawsuits and financial ruin. When automakers like Ford and GM resist his influence, he publicly attacks them, trying to drive down their stock prices with social media rants.

Trump has always used economic warfare to bully businesses into submission. But now that he’s on the receiving end, he wants to rewrite the rules.

Weaponizing the Presidency for Personal Gain

This isn’t just about Musk’s ego or Trump’s endless victim complex—it’s about their shared desire to weaponize the government for personal and political gain. They want absolute control over the economy, the courts, and the press, all while maintaining the illusion that they are the ones being persecuted.

By trying to criminalize peaceful consumer protest while openly threatening companies that don’t follow their illegal mandates, they are proving that their vision for America is one where corporations exist to serve the state—and more specifically, them. This is economic authoritarianism at its core, and it cannot be allowed to stand.

Join the Resistance: Economic Power Is Political Power

The Tesla boycott is more than just a rejection of Musk’s leadership—it’s a rejection of the growing fascist tendencies within this administration. It’s proof that the American people still hold economic power and that we won’t be intimidated into compliance.

We will not be silenced. We will not be forced to support a regime that disrespects our rights. And we will continue to fight, in the courts, in the streets, and with our wallets.

DONATE TO NATIONAL GROUND GAME HERE TODAY

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/3/19/2311244/-The-Hypocrisy-of-Power-Trump-Musk-and-the-Illegal-Tesla-Boycotts?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/