Trump, Tesla, and the Dumbest Victimhood Claim Yet.
Billionaires, Boycotts, and the Hilarious Weaponization of Victimhood
Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, have long been cultural Rorschach tests. To some, they represent innovation and progress. To others, they’re symbols of tech bro elitism, billionaire arrogance, and right-wing grievance politics. And now, thanks to one particularly fragile Cybertruck owner, we’re apparently supposed to believe that mocking Tesla drivers is equivalent to a hate crime.
Yes, really.
Meet Mike Miller, a Cybertruck enthusiast so upset about people not liking his car that he petitioned Congress to classify harassment of Tesla owners as a hate crime. Because, clearly, in a country where marginalized communities are still fighting for basic legal protections, the real oppressed class is guys who spent six figures on an “apocalypse-ready” toy and didn’t get universal praise for it.
Trump Enters the Chat: Because of Course He Does
If this story wasn’t absurd enough, Donald Trump just threw gasoline on the battery-powered fire.
After Miller’s bizarre crusade made the rounds, Trump—never one to miss an opportunity for performative outrage—declared that boycotting Tesla was “illegal” and an attack on free enterprise. (Fun fact: it isn’t illegal. Boycotts are protected under the First Amendment. But since when has Trump let the Constitution get in the way of a good rant?)
Then, because subtlety isn’t exactly his brand, Trump publicly bought a Tesla—a red Model S, no less—during a White House event attended by Elon Musk.
Yes, the same Trump who has spent years mocking electric vehicles and rallying against clean energy suddenly decided he’s a Tesla fanboy. Because nothing says "grassroots oppression" like having a billionaire president personally buying your product in solidarity.
If Tesla owners were indeed a persecuted class, would one of the wealthiest, most influential people in the country be rushing to defend them?
The Cybertruck Owner’s Cry for Help
Back to Mike Miller.
According to his letter to Congress, Miller’s Cybertruck has been the target of road rage, insults, and—brace yourself for the horror—people saying mean things about it online.
To which we must ask: Have Tesla owners ever met the internet?
Miller and his fellow Tesla warriors claim that the backlash they face isn’t just people annoyed at Musk’s political antics, the aggressive marketing of Cybertrucks, or the smug aura of certain EV drivers. No, it’s “discrimination.” They argue that people being mad at Tesla is no different than racial or gender-based oppression.
This is, of course, laughably stupid.
Hate Crimes: Let’s Review What They Actually Are
Hate crimes in the U.S. are legally defined as criminal acts motivated by bias against race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Owning a Musk-branded electric tank does not make you an oppressed minority.
You know what actually is illegal? Tesla owners deliberately running pedestrians over while testing “Full Self-Driving” in public. You know what isn’t? People making fun of your truck for looking like a rejected Halo vehicle.
Tesla Is a Political Brand—And That’s Why People Care
Miller and Trump’s collective tantrum ignores the real reason Tesla owners are being criticized: it’s not about the car but what it represents.
Tesla was once a symbol of green innovation. Now? It’s a political litmus test. Musk’s anti-union, right-wing pandering, his platforming of conspiracy theories, and his alignment with the worst corners of the internet have turned Tesla into a badge of ideological allegiance.
That’s why Trump buying one wasn’t just a mid-life crisis purchase but a statement. And that’s why people aren’t just rolling their eyes at Cybertrucks. They’re rolling their eyes at what they’ve come to stand for.
Privilege Is Not Persecution
Let’s be clear: no one should vandalize cars, harass people in public, or physically threaten Tesla owners. But being criticized for your car purchase is not oppression.
When Tesla owners try to co-opt the language of actual marginalized groups—while being backed by a U.S. president and the world’s richest men—it’s not just embarrassing. It’s deeply insulting to people who actually experience real hate crimes.
Tesla drivers are not disenfranchised rebels. They are consumers of luxury products, actively supported by the most powerful figures in the country. If that’s your idea of oppression, you might need to rethink your definition of hardship.
Final Thought: The “War” on Tesla Is a War of Their Own Making
If Tesla owners want less hostility, maybe they should:
Stop pretending consumer choice is a marginalized identity.
Acknowledge that Tesla isn’t being targeted for “no reason” but because of Musk’s increasingly toxic public persona.
Recognize that criticism is not oppression; if you want to be part of a billionaire’s brand cult, that comes with public perception baggage.
Otherwise, they should embrace the backlash. If you buy a Cybertruck, you’re driving a conversation piece, not just a vehicle. If you’re going to roll around in a bulletproof, cyberpunk panic tank, at least own the fact that people might have opinions about it.
But let’s all agree on one thing: Hate crime protections are for real victims, not Tesla drivers upset that their truck isn’t universally loved.
🔥 What do you think? Is this the dumbest claim of victimhood ever, or do Tesla owners have a case? Sound off in the comments!
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Bibliography:
Brewster, J. (2025, March 11). Trump calls Tesla boycott 'illegal' and says he's buying one to support Musk. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/11/trump-tesla-boycott-musk
Cameron, D. (2025, March 11). Trump buys red Tesla Model S at White House alongside Elon Musk: ‘I like signing checks’. Fox Business. Retrieved from https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/trump-buys-red-tesla-model-s-white-house-alongside-elon-musk-i-like-signing-check
Hall, J. (2025, March 11). Trump announces he’ll buy brand new Tesla to support Elon Musk’s ‘baby’ following boycotts, plunging stock. New York Post. Retrieved from https://nypost.com/2025/03/11/us-news/trump-announces-hell-buy-brand-new-tesla-to-support-elon-musks-baby-following-boycotts-dropping-stock
O’Connor, A. (2025, March 11). Trump, hater of EVs, says he’s buying a Tesla. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/trump-hater-of-evs-says-hes-buying-a-tesla-66553ef8
Reynolds, M. (2025, March 11). Boycotting Tesla is not illegal, legal experts say, after Trump’s bizarre claim. BuzzFeed News. Retrieved from https://www.buzzfeed.com/andyneuenschwander/trump-boycotting-tesla-is-illegal
Sullivan, E. (2025, March 11). Trump’s Tesla stunt won’t save Musk from his biggest problem. Associated Press. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/b3118cbab69fbfaa3abcceb059ba8c58
I suspect that Trump doesn’t even have a driver’s license, and never learned to drive a car. He’s a lifelong chauffeured bubble boy.
You can be sure Trump didn’t actually pay for it. And I would imagine it is illegal to advertise a product of your pal on the White House forecourt. Oh how I despise those two.
Maggots!