A Tesla owner in upstate New York says he's frustrated after his car was vandalized during protests tied to Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
"Regular people like myself are getting caught up in this," Shawn Freed told "America’s Newsroom" Friday.
"It's sad to me that they are attacking Tesla, the company, because they disagree with the opinions of an individual," he said.
"Tesla owners like myself have nothing to do with this."
Freed, an engineer, said his wife and mother-in-law were attending a show in downtown Syracuse. When they returned to the parking lot, they saw a disturbing message written on the hood in permanent marker: “This car supports Nazis.”
He got the message off with rubbing alcohol. But the damage went beyond the surface.
"It doesn't give me any hesitation [to drive the car]. However, I have a family," Freed said.
"It does give me hesitation for whether they are going to continue to be safe."
The vandalism happened during a wave of anti-Musk outrage. Critics have pointed to Musk’s ties to DOGE and former President Trump.
Earlier this week, Attorney General Pam Bondi charged three people with setting Tesla property on fire in coordinated arson attacks.
The suspects used Molotov cocktails to damage Tesla vehicles, charging stations, and dealerships across multiple states.
Bondi called it “nothing short of domestic terrorism.” She promised to pursue not just the perpetrators—but also those supporting or funding them.
President Trump reacted on Truth Social. He wrote, "I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20-year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla."
Freed says he’s staying loyal to his car but wants stronger action from law enforcement. He even got a possible lead.
"Somebody from London said that they recognized the jacket of the person and sent me a picture, said they go to Syracuse University. So, I'm going to follow up with the authorities," he said.
When asked if he thinks he was targeted, Freed paused.
"I didn’t before," he said. "When you have an experience like this, you start to feel like maybe you are."