WASHINGTON: Tom Blackburn was so proud of his Tesla, he even bought one in bright red to stand out. But with company CEO Elon Musk’s foray into US politics, he’s sworn never to buy from the electric carmaker again.
Musk has already divided Americans by helping President Donald Trump slash government spending in moves denounced as illegal and immoral by critics.
Now the controversy may be ricocheting against Tesla — his pioneering brand once adored by environmentally conscious buyers.
“I’m just a little embarrassed to be driving it at this point,” retired attorney Blackburn told AFP of the Tesla he bought more than a decade ago. “I have pretty much soured on Tesla as a brand.”
A bumper sticker reading “I bought this before I knew he was crazy” has adorned his car since last year.
The 76-year-old from Virginia jokes: “Now I think I need something stronger.”
Musk became chief executive of Tesla in 2008, overseeing the company’s rise to the world’s most valuable automaker in terms of market capitalization.
But analysts say Musk’s political endeavors — including backing far-right parties in Europe and sharing conspiracy theories online — could isolate Tesla’s traditionally liberal market base.
“I think he will have a long-term damaging effect on the brand and the business,” said Daniel Binns, global CEO of Elmwood Brand Consultancy.
He said that Tesla needs to “disassociate” from Musk in its marketing, warning of a “perfect storm” looming as an aging lineup of cars puts it at risk of losing customers to rival companies.
“The brand on so many levels is not aligned with its audience and the market is filled with fantastic competitors,” Binns told AFP.
Tesla’s share price slumped by nine percent this week as it reported disappointing sales in Europe, which traders at least partly attributed to issues with how buyers view Musk.
However, investors are yet to see strong evidence that the billionaire’s politics are hurting Tesla’s business.
“Increased political activity does create a risk that Tesla may alienate some consumers from buying a Tesla, but it’s too early to say there is an impact to the company,” said Seth Goldstein, equity strategist at Morningstar.
Controversies generated by Musk, including what resembled a Nazi salute — he said it was not one — at a Trump rally, have nonetheless already prompted a backlash.
Kumait Jaroje, a physician from the Boston area, told AFP he is trying to sell his Tesla Cybertruck to avoid harassment after a note reading “Nazi F*** Off” was stuck on it.
The 40-year-old, who supported Trump in November’s election, bought the futuristic-looking vehicle in gold last year to advertise his cosmetic surgery, but said he has since been sworn at and cut off by other motorists.
“I’m avoiding driving it,” said Jaroje, adding that “Tesla has become a label for people who like Musk — which is not true.”
Around 54 percent of Americans hold unfavorable views of Musk, according to a Pew Research Center poll, though the results are split on party lines with Democrats far more critical than Republicans.
Some are showing their opposition to Musk by protesting at Tesla showrooms and encouraging owners to “Dump your stock” to devalue the vehicles.
American singer Sheryl Crow sold her Tesla in protest of Musk this month and said the proceeds would go to NPR, a US radio network that faces cuts in its government funding.
Yet Luis Garay, an independent who voted Democrat in the election, told AFP he can separate Musk’s political views from Tesla.
“We love Tesla cars, we don’t like Elon Musk’s political views,” said the 68-year-old from Maryland.
For self-described liberal Margaret Moerchen, from US capital Washington, it is crucial she makes clear that “our driving a Tesla does not endorse Elon Musk.”
Her Tesla, which she bought in 2015 to reduce her carbon emissions, is now covered in stickers reading “Up with EVs, down with Musk” and the LGBTQ pride flag.
The 45-year-old astronomer said she won’t be buying Tesla again and instead cited her interest in competitor Rivian.
“Tesla’s not the only game in town anymore,” she said.
Tesla owners sour on Musk’s venture into US politics
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Tesla owners sour on Musk’s venture into US politics
- Musk has already divided Americans by helping President Donald Trump slash government spending
St. Francis relics go on public show for first time in Italy
Assisi, Italy: Saint Francis of Assisi’s skeleton is going on public display from Sunday for the first time for the 800th anniversary of his death, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Inside a nitrogen-filled plexiglass case with the Latin inscription “Corpus Sancti Francisci” (The Body of St. Francis), the remains are being shown in the Italian hill town’s Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.
St. Francis, who died on October 3, 1226, founded the Franciscan order after renouncing his wealth and devoting his life to the poor.
Giulio Cesareo, director of communications for the Franciscan convent in Assisi said he hoped the display could be “a meaningful experience” for believers and non-believers alike.
Cesareo, a Franciscan friar, said the “damaged” and “consumed” state of the bones showed that St. Francis “gave himself completely” to his life’s work.
His remains, which will be on display until March 22, were transferred to the basilica built in the saint’s honor in 1230.
But it was only in 1818, after excavations carried out in utmost secrecy, that his tomb was rediscovered.
Apart from previous exhumations for inspection and scientific examination, the bones of Saint Francis have only been displayed once, in 1978, to a very limited public and for just one day.
Usually hidden from view, the transparent case containing the relics since 1978 was brought out on Saturday from the metal coffer in which it is kept, inside his stone tomb in the crypt of the basilica.
The case is itself inside another bullet-proof and anti-burglary glass case.
Surveillance cameras will operate 24 hours a day for added protection of the remains.
St. Francis is Italy’s patron saint and the 800th anniversary commemorations of his death will also see the restoration of an October 4 public holiday in his honor.
The holiday had been scrapped nearly 50 years ago for budget reasons.
Its revival is also a tribute to late pope Francis who took on the saint’s name.
Pope Francis died last year at the age of 88.
‘Not a movie set’
Reservations to see the saint’s remains already amount to “almost 400,000 (people) coming from all parts of the world, with of course a clear predominance from Italy,” said Marco Moroni, guardian of the Franciscan convent.
“But we also have Brazilians, North Americans, Africans,” he added.
During this rather quiet time of year, the basilica usually sees 1,000 visitors per day on weekdays, rising to 4,000 on weekends.
The Franciscans said they were expecting 15,000 visitors per day on weekdays and up to 19,000 on Saturdays and Sundays for the month-long display of the remains.
“From the very beginning, since the time of the catacombs, Christians have venerated the bones of martyrs, the relics of martyrs, and they have never really experienced it as something macabre,” Cesareo said.
What “Christians still venerate today, in 2026, in the relics of a saint is the presence of the Holy Spirit,” he said.
Another church in Assisi holds the remains of Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager who died in 2006 and who was canonized in September by Pope Leo XIV.
Experts said the extended display of St. Francis’s remains should not affect their state of preservation.
“The display case is sealed, so there is no contact with the outside air. In reality, it remains in the same conditions as when it was in the tomb,” Cesareo said.
The light, which will remain subdued in the church, should also not have an effect.
“The basilica will not be lit up like a stadium,” Cesareo said. “This is not a movie set.”
