The FBI has launched a dedicated task force to investigate a surge of attacks targeting Tesla properties, a move that underscores growing concerns about escalating tensions between CEO Elon Musk and his critics.

The task force, operating in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), was announced Monday after authorities discovered multiple incendiary devices at a Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas, the city where the company is headquartered.

“This is domestic terrorism,” FBI Director Kash Patel declared in a post on X, the social media platform owned by Musk. “Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice.” FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino added, “Justice is coming.”

The latest incident is just one in a string of attacks on Tesla showrooms and vehicles. Law enforcement officials say at least 80 cases of vandalism or arson targeting Tesla have been reported across the United States and Canada, with many linked to growing opposition to Musk’s political leanings and his close ties to the Trump administration.

Musk’s Politics Igniting Tesla Backlash

While Tesla has long been a symbol of the clean energy movement, Musk’s deep dive into far-Right politics has alienated a significant portion of his once-loyal customer base. Many believe that the attacks on Tesla stem largely from Musk’s controversial political stances and his alignment with Donald Trump’s administration, particularly in his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is aggressively slashing federal spending and cutting government jobs.

Under Musk’s leadership, the DOGE initiative has drawn sharp criticism for targeting progressive policies, and laying off workers in a bid to cut costs for the government. This has put Musk at odds with the far-left, which has historically championed EV adoption as a means of reducing carbon emissions.

“Elon Musk is destroying our democracy, and he’s using the fortune he built at Tesla to do it,” reads a statement from Tesla Takedown, an activist group organizing protests against Tesla across the country. The group has announced plans for demonstrations outside nearly 300 Tesla showrooms this weekend.

“The U.S. government has a long history of conflating peaceful protest with violence,” a Tesla Takedown spokesperson told CNBC. “The #TeslaTakedown movement has been and always will be nonviolent. We will not be deterred.”

A Political Shift That’s Costing Tesla

Musk’s rightward political shift has not only alienated Tesla’s environmentally-conscious customer base but has also contributed to the company’s financial woes. Tesla shares closed at $278.39 on Monday, a dramatic drop of more than 40% from the stock’s 52-week high of $488.54, which it reached in mid-December.

The decline reflects investor concerns over Tesla’s long-term prospects, as its traditional allies in the climate-conscious Left move away from the brand. This shift has also played a role in Tesla losing market share to competitors like Rivian and Ford, which continue to attract buyers who prioritize environmental sustainability without the political baggage that now comes with Tesla.

Government Steps In to De-Escalate

The FBI’s decision to launch a Tesla-specific task force suggests that federal authorities see the escalating tensions as a national security concern. While Tesla has not publicly outlined new security measures, the FBI move is expected to shift the conversation away from Musk’s politics and onto law enforcement’s crackdown on the attacks.

Those who served in the Biden administration have remained largely silent on Tesla’s political turmoil, but key figures in the Trump administration have been vocal in their support. Attorney General Pam Bondi has highlighted arrests made in connection with vandalism against Tesla vehicles, while Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick went as far as encouraging investors to “Buy Tesla” stock during a Fox News appearance.

President Trump, meanwhile, has been the most outspoken, suggesting that individuals convicted of attacking Tesla vehicles should be imprisoned in El Salvador.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has also addressed the issue, albeit in his typical brash style. Speaking at a Tesla event last week, he dismissed the concerns, telling employees, “If you read the news, it feels like, you know, Armageddon.” He went on to say that those targeting Tesla vehicles were “psycho” and should “stop being psycho!”

As tensions rise, clashes between Tesla supporters and critics have turned violent. Over the weekend, a man was arrested in West Palm Beach, Florida, after allegedly driving his car toward anti-Tesla protesters outside a showroom.

“The protestors had to move out of the way in order to avoid being struck by the vehicle,” the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. The suspect, identified as Andrew Dutil, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. Authorities noted that his Facebook page contained content supporting Trump.

With nationwide protests planned for the coming weekend, authorities are bracing for further confrontations.

Tesla Becomes A Company at a Crossroads

For years, Tesla enjoyed broad bipartisan support, hailed as a pioneer in clean energy while also appealing to libertarian-leaning tech enthusiasts. But as Musk has increasingly aligned himself with Trump’s political agenda, Tesla’s brand has become more polarizing.

The creation of an FBI task force may help tamp down the immediate threat of attacks on Tesla, but it does little to address the deeper challenge Musk faces: regaining the trust of former supporters who once viewed Tesla as the future of sustainable transportation.

Electricity is a cornerstone of modern civilization, powering everything from homes and industries to communication and transportation systems. Other factors like human ingenuity, natural resources, and societal structures also play critical roles. That said, without electricity, our current way of life would grind to a halt pretty fast—imagine no lights, no internet, no refrigeration. It’s the lifeblood of progress, but it’s not the whole body.

Electricity’s importance to civilization is massive. It’s the backbone of nearly every system we rely on—think healthcare (hospitals, ventilators), food supply (refrigeration, production), communication (internet, phones), and transportation (electric vehicles, traffic systems). Without it, economies collapse, safety plummets, and daily life reverts to something pre-industrial, fast. The World Bank estimates over 80% of global GDP depends on reliable electricity access. Even basic stuff like clean water often ties back to electric pumps or treatment plants.

Beyond the practical, it’s a catalyst for innovation—electricity enabled the tech revolution, from computers to AI. No juice, no progress. That said, it’s not everything. People survived without it for millennia, leaning on manual labor, fire, and raw materials. Today, though, losing it would be catastrophic. Renewable energy comes from naturally replenishing sources that don’t run out or can be restored within a human lifetime. Unlike fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), which take millions of years to form and deplete with use, renewables tap into ongoing processes like sunlight, wind, or water cycles. They’re a big deal because they cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce reliance on finite resources, though they’ve got their own challenges.

Captures sunlight with panels (photovoltaic cells) to generate electricity or heat water. It’s abundant—Earth gets more solar energy in an hour than the world uses in a year—but it’s weather-dependent and needs space or storage for nighttime. Wind: Uses turbines to convert wind into electricity. Wind’s free and clean, but it’s inconsistent, and turbines can be noisy or mess with wildlife (think birds).

Hydropower: Harnesses flowing water, usually via dams on rivers, to spin turbines. It’s reliable and can store energy (pumped storage), but dams can disrupt ecosystems and displace communities.

Geothermal: Pulls heat from Earth’s core—think hot springs or volcanic areas—for power or heating. It’s steady, but only viable in specific spots. Biomass: Burns organic stuff (wood, crops, waste) or converts it into biofuels. It’s renewable if managed right but can release carbon and compete with food production.

Renewables are sustainable long-term and combat climate change—global renewable capacity hit about 3,700 gigawatts in 2023, per the IEA, covering over 30% of electricity demand. The catch? They often need big upfront costs, infrastructure (like grids or batteries for when the sun’s down), and can’t yet fully replace fossil fuels everywhere due to scale or reliability gaps. It’s a shift from digging up the past to harnessing what’s around us. What aspect of this interests you most?

Electricity is a linchpin of modern civilization, driving nearly every facet of our lives. It’s the force behind industry—powering factories that produce goods, from cars to smartphones. In homes, it keeps lights on, food fresh, and climates bearable. Globally, the International Energy Agency says electricity demand has been growing about 2-3% annually, with over 80% of the world’s population now having access—up from 73% in 2000—showing how essential it’s become.

In healthcare, it’s life-or-death: ventilators, MRI machines, and even basic sterilization depend on it. Communication; the internet, satellites, and phones—all electric. Transportation’s shifting too—electric vehicles are projected to hit 18% of global car sales by 2030, per BloombergNEF. Without electricity, supply chains collapse, cities darken, and economies tank. The World Bank ties reliable power to higher GDP—countries with spotty access lag in development.

Historically, its importance skyrocketed with the Industrial Revolution, turning muscle and steam into automated systems. Today, it’s the foundation for innovation—AI, robotics, space exploration—all need juice. But it’s not absolute. Pre-electric societies leaned on human labor, animals, and natural forces. Now, though? Losing it would unravel us fast.

South Korean auto giant Hyundai has announced a sweeping investment plan in the United States, including a massive $5.8 billion steel plant in Louisiana and a $7.59 billion car and battery factory in Georgia.

The move underscores a growing shift among multinational companies recalibrating their operations under the weight of U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies.

Hyundai Executive Chairman Euisun Chung revealed the investment during a White House event on Monday, standing alongside Trump.

“This new facility will create 1,300 American jobs and serve as the foundation for a more self-reliant and secure automotive supply chain in the U.S.,” Chung said.

The Louisiana plant marks a critical expansion for Hyundai, which already has a strong manufacturing presence in the United States. The company operates an assembly plant in Alabama, while its affiliate Kia runs a production facility in Georgia. The two existing factories can produce 700,000 vehicles annually. Once the new Georgia plant becomes fully operational, it will add another 300,000 cars to the company’s U.S. manufacturing capacity.

Trump’s Tariffs: A Driving Force Behind Hyundai’s Move?

Hyundai’s latest investment makes it the newest major company to announce a multibillion-dollar commitment to the United States since Trump’s return to the presidency in January. The U.S. president has made clear that companies choosing to manufacture abroad could face punishing tariffs, while those investing in American factories will be rewarded with tariff exemptions.

Trump has repeatedly signaled his intention to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries with large trade surpluses with the United States. South Korea, a key U.S. trade partner, has found itself in Trump’s crosshairs, raising speculation that Hyundai’s investment is, at least in part, a strategic move to avoid being swept up in new trade penalties.

“Hyundai will be producing steel in America and making its cars in America, and as a result, they’ll not have to pay any tariffs,” Trump said Monday, touting the investment as evidence that his protectionist trade policies are working.

“Cars are coming to this country at levels never seen before. Money is pouring in. We want to keep it that way,” he added.

The president further hinted that more tariff measures targeting foreign automakers could be announced in the coming days.

Global Business Scrambles as U.S. Trade War Heats Up

Hyundai’s decision comes amid a broader wave of multinational firms redirecting their investments to the United States in response to Trump’s trade war rhetoric. Apple and Oracle are among the companies that have announced hundreds of billions of dollars in planned U.S. investments over the next four years.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry had traveled to South Korea in October to meet with Hyundai executives and discuss the steel plant investment. The project is expected to make Louisiana a key hub for Hyundai’s North American supply chain.

“Hyundai’s commitment shows that we are entering a new era of manufacturing in America,” Landry said in a statement. “This investment not only strengthens our auto sector but ensures that American workers are at the heart of global production.”

In addition to its manufacturing expansion, Hyundai has also pledged to purchase $3 billion worth of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States, further aligning itself with the country’s energy sector.

The deal aligns with Trump’s broader push to boost American energy exports and reduce trade deficits. With South Korea being one of the largest importers of U.S. LNG, the agreement solidifies Hyundai’s relationship with American energy producers and serves as a buffer against potential trade restrictions.

Trump’s renewed trade war threats have put companies like Hyundai in a tough spot, forcing them to either move production to the U.S. or risk hefty penalties. While Hyundai’s latest investments may shield it from immediate tariff exposure, the broader uncertainty surrounding Trump’s trade policies means the auto industry remains on edge.

As the April 2 deadline for Trump’s reciprocal tariff announcements approaches, major automakers—including European and Japanese manufacturers—are bracing for the possibility of new levies. Industry analysts say Hyundai’s rapid expansion into the U.S. is a clear signal that companies are taking Trump’s threats seriously.