Hundreds of people protested Saturday afternoon outside Chicagoland Tesla dealerships, as part of a global day of action at more than 500 Tesla dealers all over the world, protesting billionaire Elon Musk's role in the Trump administration's sweeping cuts to the federal government workforce.

Protesters said they want to show up week after week, as part of an effort to dent the fortune of the world's wealthiest man, most of whose estimated $340 billion fortune consists of stock he holds in the Tesla electric vehicle company that he continues to run while also serving as a senior adviser to President Trump.

At least three such protests were held Saturday in the Chicago area – one at the Tesla dealership on Rush Street in the Gold Coast neighborhood, another in north suburban Northbrook, and one in west suburban Westmont.

Hundreds of similar protests were taking place across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Tesla dealerships have been the targets of protests for weeks, but Saturday was the first concerted attempt to protest at all of the company's more than 200 showrooms across the U.S.

Protesters showed up to Tesla dealers with chants and signs – some calling the electric vehicles Swasticars – as part of the "Tesla Takedown" movement.

Protesters vented their frustration with Musk's role in the Trump administration's efforts to slash the federal workforce and dismantle multiple agencies, claiming Musk has too much power in the federal government.

Protesters said they want to shut down the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, headed by Musk. They are also calling for the boycott of Tesla, and called Musk a fascist.

"He's got absolutely no empathy or compassion for people, the neediest people among us who need governmental assistance. Elon Musk needs to go back to South Africa," said Mark Portman, of Highland Park.

Protesters said people need to think twice before purchasing a Tesla vehicle.

"We should all be selling Teslas, not buying them; and selling his stock," Marla Portman said.

In London, "Tesla Takedown" activists put cutouts of Musk making a gesture reminiscent of a Nazi salute on top of Tesla chargers. 

This all comes as many Tesla drivers, including some in Chicago, say their cars are being vandalized.

Musk responded to the vandalism of Tesla vehicles in an interview with Fox News last week.

"This extreme amount of hatred and violence is because we're actually succeeding in getting rid of corruption and waste. If we were not succeeding in getting rid of corruption and waste, they wouldn't care, Musk said.

Trump administration officials are promising to crack down on what they say are coordinated attacks on Tesla electric vehicles nationwide, although U.S. intelligence suggests lone actors are behind them.

Since January 2025, incidents targeting Tesla EVs have occurred in at least nine states, according to a joint intelligence bulletin issued by the Department of Homeland Security and FBI and obtained by CBS News. "These incidents have involved arson, gunfire, and vandalism, including graffiti expressing grievances against those the perpetrators perceive to be racists, fascists, or political opponents," the bulletin reads.

But the crimes "appear to have been conducted by lone offenders," the bulletin says, adding that all of the incidents have taken place at night, which has made it difficult to identify and arrest the perpetrators.  

The FBI has created a task force to investigate the Tesla incidents, according to an FBI official, and the DHS memo, published on March 21, said that the FBI and DHS are now working with federal, state and local law enforcement "to disrupt and deter future incidents."

Musk said in a meeting last week that, even though Tesla has had some rocky moments, at this point people should keep their stock with the company.