Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County Republicans said that local Democrats are unjustly harassing a Tesla dealership in Lisle, accusing them of intimidating a business that has made significant contributions to the community's economy.

“It is ridiculous that the DuPage Democrats are harassing and intimidating a local business that has contributed significantly to the Village of Lisle's economy. This is why the Democratic Party has the lowest approval ratings that it has had since there has been polling,” Kevin Coyne, Chairman of the DuPage County GOP, said in a March 18 social media post on X.

“We are not long removed from violent protests and looting that destroyed businesses across the suburbs. Of late, Tesla locations have been vandalized across America. This thinly veiled attempt by DuPage Democrats to cancel and scare a local business over political differences is repugnant. Americans are done with it and, increasingly, done with the Democratic Party.”

Screenshot of the March 18 social media post by DuPage County Republicans | DuPage County Republicans

According to CBS News, the Democratic Party of DuPage County and other grassroots groups organized a “Tesla Takedown” protest outside a Lisle Tesla dealership on Tuesday. The protest, which involved over 100 participants, targeted the leadership of President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, according to CBS News. Organizers decried Musk's controversial efforts to slash government services and purge federal employees. Protesters held signs and flags, including those of Ukraine and Pride and argued that Musk's actions, supported by Trump, were detrimental to the country’s well-being.

While the protest remained peaceful, it was part of a broader wave of opposition to Musk’s leadership in DOGE, which has faced criticism for its significant cuts to federal programs, according to CBS News. Similar protests have occurred across the nation, with some demonstrations turning violent, including incidents of vandalism at Tesla dealerships. Notably, Tesla vehicles have been targeted by vandals in locations such as Las Vegas, where several cars were damaged, including two that were set on fire.

In contrast, local Republicans showed their support for Musk and Trump, with a small counterprotest arguing that Musk’s actions were necessary to rein in government waste, as reported by ABC7 Chicago. Mark Rice, a Republican who ran for Illinois' 8th Congressional District in 2024, defended Musk’s approach, claiming that he was “literally giving up billions of dollars for his activism and patriotism.”