More than two dozen people showed up Wednesday at rush hour outside the Tesla dealership near San Antonio International Airport to protest against owner Elon Musk’s efforts to dismantle the federal government.
Musk, a billionaire Trump advisor, has used his Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to fire federal workers, dissolve federal agencies and access sensitive data on everyday Americans. Critics argue his actions are an illegal power grab as the president pushes the country closer to a constitutional crisis.
As protesters held up signs reading “Fire Musk” and “Tesla funds fascism,” they attracted honks and waves from drivers taking the access road in front of the dealership.
“I’m worried about my own social security,” said retiree Teresa Gutierrez as she held a sign scrawled with grievances against the Trump administration. “I’m also worried about my migrant brothers and sisters, and I’m devastated about the children of Gaza. I think we’re headed in a dangerous direction all around.”
Fellow protester Shaya Zucker said it’s important for those angry about the Trump administration to also stand up to Musk, who’s helped engineer much of the chaos.
“I plan to be at every one of these protests until they arrest me for using my First Amendment rights,” she said. “If those rights still exist.”
