Trump warns Tesla vandals of 20-year prison sentences

US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning on March 21, declaring that individuals caught vandalizing Tesla vehicles could face up to 20 years in prison.

His statement, shared on Truth Social, also extended the threat of prosecution to those funding such acts.

“People that get caught sabotaging Teslas will stand a very good chance of going to jail for up to twenty years, and that includes the funders. We are looking for you!!!” Trump wrote.

His warning follows US Attorney General Pam Bondi’s strong condemnation of recent attacks on Tesla properties, which she labeled as acts of domestic terrorism. Bondi vowed aggressive legal action, stating that perpetrators—along with organizers and financiers —would face severe consequences.

“The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism,” Bondi said. “The Department of Justice has already charged several individuals, including in cases carrying mandatory five-year minimum sentences.”

Authorities are intensifying their investigations after five Tesla vehicles were destroyed in a fire at a Tesla Collision Center in Las Vegas earlier this week — one of several recent incidents targeting the electric vehicle giant, according to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and ABC News.

Tensions surrounding Tesla have surged since Elon Musk’s appointment as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), leading to heightened protests and vandalism against the company.

Adding another layer of controversy, the US Department of Defense plans to brief Musk on a potential conflict with China. Given his leadership of Tesla and SpaceX — both major Pentagon contractors—this move has sparked concerns over conflicts of interest, particularly as Musk was also the largest financial backer of Trump’s presidential campaign.