Florida Man Arrested After Driving Into anti-Tesla protesters.

A Florida man was arrested after intentionally driving his car into protesters outside a Tesla showroom in Palm Beach County, authorities reported.

According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Andrew Dutil slowly maneuvered his vehicle onto the sidewalk where demonstrators were standing, forcing them to scatter to avoid being struck.

While no injuries were reported in the Saturday incident, Dutil faces assault charges. This confrontation adds to a growing wave of protests and violent incidents targeting Tesla locations across the U.S., coinciding with Elon Musk’s prominent role in Donald Trump’s administration.

Musk, who leads the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has faced criticism for aggressive funding cuts and layoffs, which opponents claim are attempts to dismantle government functions for personal gain.

Recent months have seen escalating violence, including an armed attack with an AR-15 rifle at an Oregon Tesla dealership and Molotov cocktail assaults on vehicles in Colorado and South Carolina. The U.S. Department of Justice has labeled these acts as "domestic terrorism," with perpetrators facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Meanwhile, Tesla’s safety record remains under scrutiny after its eighth vehicle recall in 15 months, including a recent Cybertruck recall due to crash risks. As tensions rise, Palm Beach County—home to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate—has become a focal point in the ongoing backlash against Musk’s influence in politics and business.