A billboard telling residents of Walthamstow, London they “may be in for a Nazi surprise” is the latest in a series spelling out the global discontent mounting against Elon Musk
Yet another billboard humiliating Elon Musk has appeared in London as a furious anti-Tesla campaign playing on the business mogul’s controversial “Nazi salute” continues.
The centibillionaire appeared, hand outstretched, on a massive sign in Walthamstow, London late last week as guerrilla campaigners poke fun at the controversial figure. The sign tells locals considering buying a Tesla they “may be in for a Nazi surprise”, while showcasing the moment Musk delivered a straight-handed salute while speaking on stage earlier this year.
The sign is just one of several that have appeared across the capital in recent weeks as widespread discontent builds against the hated 53-year-old X owner. The @OverthrowMusk campaign has urged people to turn against him from all corners of the city while protesters rage across the US and Europe.
One poster pasted in an advertising spot on the London Underground read: “Hate doesn’t sell. Just ask Tesla.” The poster showed the company’s recent massive stock losses, with the options having dropped more than 50 percent since December – an $800 billion (£618 billion) market gap decline.
Another poster placed on a London bus stop advertising spot read: “Tesla: The Swasticar. Autopilot for your car. Autocrat for your country.” One adert that appeared on the London Underground read: “Elon’s Musk. Parfum de 1939. Pour w***ers”.
Mr Musk has not directly denied performing a Nazi salute on stage, but has said accusations were part of a “dirty tricks campaign” being waged against him.
Earlier today, protesters gathered outside a London Tesla dealership calling on people to boycott the car manufacturers. A small group of people could seen holding up banners reading “Honk if you hate Elon” and “Enough fascist nonsense”. The organisers went seemingly unnoticed by staff inside as they told people to boycott and dump the manufacturer’s stock.
The posters on public transport were not authorised by Transport for London (TfL), or its advertising partners, a spokesperson for the body said in a statement. They said: “These posters were not authorised by TfL nor our advertising partners and we have instructed our teams and contractors to remove any that are found on our network.”
Mr Musk’s popularity and net worth has tanked since Donald Trump took office earlier this year, with the new Commander-in-Chief appointing him the head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE has been responsible for billions of dollars worth of sweeping cuts to vital services which have led to large-scale protests in the US.
Americans have taken to vandalising Tesla vehicles, spraypainting them with anti-Musk slogans, and, in some cases, have occupied and damaged company showrooms. Mr Trump has sensationally claimed even boycotting sales is “illegal”, while his Attorney General Pam Bondi has accused vandals of “domestic terrorism” and threatened them with 20 years behind bars.
Signs of discontent with Mr Musk haven’t solely appeared in the US and London, with other European nations appearing similarly opposed to the world’s richest man. French authorities reported a dozen cars were torched at a Toulouse showroom earlier this month, with another in the Netherlands graffitied with slogans including “f***k off fascist” and calling Musk a Nazi.
Even Australia has seen its share of anti-Tesla discontent, with one person scrawling “do you really want to drive a swasticar” across a dealership window in Tasmania.
