‘Astroturf’: Critics speculate Tesla protests are not a grassroots movement, but carefully organized campaign

Protests open outside Tesla showrooms across the country this weekend Elon Musk’s role The Department of Administration Efficiency, which helped lead President Donald Trump, raised questions about who is funding so-called “grassroots” demonstrations.

“Who is funding and organizing all of these paid protests?” Musk posted to X in the early hours of Sunday morning, accompanied by video clips from podcast host Joe Rogan, which discussed the left-wing protests in recent days.

oneTesla’s movement Founded in recent days, more than 200 protests were planned in the U.S. Saturday, and hundreds more planned protests in Canada and Europe as part of the Global Day of Action. In the United States Protests Actors, filmmakers, congressional lawmakers, academics and activists, scheduled for Saturday, led a “massive mobilization call” last week to rally support and described in the media as “grassroots” efforts to shake St Musk and Trump while working hard.

Tesla’s location faces violence in recent weeks, with Musk and his team of governors investigating federal agencies in search of government overspending, fraud and mismanagement, while critics blame Trump administration Create an “oligarch” by mining billionaires to help simplify federal government actions.

Doge is a temporary inter-departmental organization designed to reduce and simplify the federal government. The group will be disbanded on July 4, 2026.

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Saturday’s protests were called “nonviolence” and showed people dancing outside the Tesla store where people holding signs of anti-Vastica and anti-Musk dance outside the Tesla store. Local media reported that others protested for hours outside Tesla dealerships, with some holding signs saying “Don’t buy Swastar” or “No one was elected Elon.”

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The protests in the United States ranged from New York to Maryland to Texas to California on Saturday. Various media reports say that dozens of protesters were seen at many rallies, while large protests, such as one in Chicago, attracted more than 100 people, while protests in New York attracted hundreds.

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The Action Network, a left-wing advocacy group, described the nationwide protests online.

Another left-wing group inseparably described the protests in New Jersey, including demonstrations about passers-by. “Not the destructiveness of Tesla cars or stores; or the insult of Tesla drivers! When the Tesla driver passes, we will shout, ‘Sell your Tesla, trade it, not boo! Stay on the road. Stay on the road! It is legal to let protesters not be allowed on the road or on any business in the artificial realm to live in businesses including businesses, including toses note note note tose note tos Tesla Tesla Tesla Tesla Tesla. The indivisible policy of property prohibits contact with counter-protesters (and other protesters) and it is for the safety of all.”

Local news outlets, media figures and conservative critics speculated that the recent anti-Tesla protests were involved in “Astroturfing,” which Merriam-Webster defines as a false campaign. Grassroots. ”

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“I know when something is going to happen. Posted to X After a Tesla protest last Saturday in Tyson, Virginia, outside Washington, DC

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“While local #teslataked protests may appear spontaneous and community-driven, they are the product of well-funded, closely coordinated campaigns led by national political organizations such as national political organizations such as indivisible projects http://moveon.org and professional protest companies.”

Nomani in Fairfax era Titled “Local #teslatakedown reveals “grassroturf protests”.”

“These groups use digital platforms, pre-scripted chants, pre-printed signs, and nationwide toolskits to manufacture the appearance of grassroots activity, and the messages on Tyco Road mirror the language of protests nationwide. This kind of organizing is known as ‘AstroTurfing’ – a term used to describe top-down efforts that mimic authentic, bottom-up civilization engagement,” she continued on X.

Podcast host Joe Rogan speculated in a clip shared by Musk that protesters in the past few days have received money to participate in anti-Tesla protests.

“For a lot of losers, a lot of people who have nothing going well in their lives, I’m a loser in many cases in my life, and someone called me and said, ‘Hey, hey, want to make $400 for $400, just go to this Kamala Harris Rally?’ I thought, ‘Yes, go,’” “The Joe Rogan Experience” was released on Saturday.

Dem Rep says

“They paid $1,000 to protest, I think that’s Tesla. If someone follows you, they’d love the rules of engagement… Are you organizing gangs? You’re paying for people and then literally say to them: ‘What happens if you’re involved in violence?” He said, why is it on the table?

Other X users have taken to social media, speculating and accusing the Tesla protests of being an example of Astroturfing.

“Astroturf: Rep Jasmine Crockett is organizing canned protests at Tesla stores in the United States “indivisibly” with paid protests supported by Soros. Here, Democratic lawmakers demand that Elon “cancel” for her birthday, “Pocultive X account amusement” Posted to X.

“New: Tesla protesters stop protesting Southlake Texas Tesla store, according to @Carlos__TURCIOS, clock reads clocks when clocks read clocks.’ They all immediately left at 12:00 pm. Strangely, “Popular political co-owner Colin Rugg posted to X.

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Report some protesters At noon in Texas, their luggage packing sparked further charges from “Astroturfing,” including a user who responded to Rugg said, “Pay Astroturf.”

Seattle Radio Host Jason Rantz Response x post.

Fox News Digital was associated with Astroturf speculation on Sunday morning, Action Network and Moveon.org were inseparable, but no comments were received immediately.

The protests on Saturday were mostly peaceful. Justice Department chief Pam Bondi had previously vowed that violent protesters who caused attacks and damage in Tesla’s showrooms and other properties earlier this month would face the full force of the law.

“The days of committing crimes are over,” Bundy said. “Let it be a warning: If you join the wave of family terrorism against Tesla’s property, the Justice Department will put you behind.”

A Las Vegas man was arrested for allegedly involved in a Molotov cocktail attack on Tesla’s property. In this case, the suspect faces felony charges, including three counts of arson, three counts of possessing an explosive device, five counts of shooting a car and four counts of destroying personal property, according to local police.

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Musk said on X on Saturday that the “crazy irony” was “people shoot bullets into Tesla stores, burn cars and general violence, and when I completely create zero violence, I call me Nazis.”

Alec Schemmel of Fox News Digital contributed to the report.