US President Donald Trump has announced that he will label attacks on Tesla locations as domestic terrorism, in response to escalating protests against the electric car company and its CEO, Elon Musk. The President made the comments at a White House event, where he also promised to buy a Tesla.

The protests, which have been reported at various Tesla locations, have resulted in incidents of vandalism and even gunshots at a Tesla dealership. The demonstrations are allegedly aimed at Musk, who also serves as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

During the event, Trump stated, "I will do that. I'll do it. I'm going to stop them. We catch anybody doing it… because they're harming a great American company." He added, "We already know who some of them are, we're gonna catch them," and referred to the perpetrators as "bad guys."

In response to Trump's comments, a Bluesky account representing the Tesla Takedown movement released a statement denying any involvement in violent activities. The statement read, "We are a nonviolent grassroots protest movement. We oppose violence and destruction of property. Peaceful protest on public property is not domestic terrorism. They are trying to intimidate us. We will not let them succeed."

The statement also drew parallels between Trump's labeling of the protests as domestic terrorism and his own actions during the 2020 presidential election. It noted that Trump had sent a violent crowd to Capitol Hill to dispute the election results, and subsequently pardoned over 1,600 rioters who were found guilty of serious crimes against the United States.

The development comes at a time when tensions between the government and private companies, particularly in the electric car industry, are running high. The move is likely to have significant implications for the industry, as well as the ongoing debate around domestic terrorism and the limits of free speech.

As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Trump's administration will implement this new policy and what consequences it will have for those involved in the protests. One thing is certain, however – the electric car industry will be watching closely, and the outcome will have far-reaching implications for the sector as a whole.

In related news, Trump also hosted a Tesla ad at the White House, sparking controversy around the blurring of lines between politics and business. The event has raised questions about the President's relationship with Elon Musk and the electric car industry, and whether this move is a sign of things to come.