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Tensions boiled over at the ongoing Columbus protests against Tesla and Elon Musk this weekend when a Tesla Cybertruck driver rolled up to demonstrators, seemingly intent on provoking a reaction. Video footage circulating on social media captures the moment the man, donning a red MAGA hat, smugly gestured at protesters from inside his imposing, stainless-steel monstrosity, only to be met with chants of “Shame! Shame! Shame!”
One protester, an elderly woman, didn’t hold back. Approaching the driver’s window, she leaned in and told him, “I feel sorry for you. You’re a little man.” The Cybertruck driver, clearly rattled, attempted a weak insult in return, reportedly questioning her weight. His attempt at a comeback only fueled the crowd’s outrage, as police quickly intervened to break up the confrontation before it escalated further.
Columbus Protests Grow Amid Anti-Musk Sentiment
The Columbus protests, which have been gaining traction over the past few weeks, center around Musk’s involvement with Trump and the far-right. Organized by labor activists and concerned citizens, the demonstrations have seen increasing turnout, with recent protests drawing over 500 people outside the Easton Town Center Tesla showroom. Signs like “De-Musk America” and “No Nazis in Tech” have been common sights among the crowds, as Tesla’s reputation continues to sink alongside Musk’s public image.
The Cybertruck incident underscores the growing divide between Musk loyalists and his detractors. While Tesla owners are selling off their vehicles in protest, others—like the Cybertruck driver in the video—seem eager to use their Teslas as symbols of defiance.
The video quickly made waves on Reddit, with users tearing into the Cybertruck driver’s cringeworthy display. One top comment from nickcdll summed up the mood:
“The supreme edgelord.”
Others mocked the driver’s failed attempt at an insult, with its_milly_time pointing out the absurdity of his weight-related retort:
“That loser asked her how much she weighed after that one woman said he was a tiny little man. Like dude, where were you planning to go with that…? lol”
Another commenter, PhartusMcBlumpkin1, sarcastically noted:
“My people like to threaten old ladies.”
Musk, Trump, and the Fallout
This latest clash in Columbus is just one piece of a broader backlash against Musk and his increasingly overt political alignment with Trump. His controversial Nazi salute at the inauguration, his attacks on federal workers, and his role in Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have all contributed to Tesla’s declining reputation.
As a result, protests have erupted nationwide, with Tesla showrooms and vehicles becoming targets of frustration. Some former Tesla owners are even removing their emblems to avoid association with the brand, while others are dumping their cars entirely.
The Cybertruck’s arrival at the protest may have been intended as a flex, but the driver’s encounter with an elderly woman calling him “a little man” might just be the most accurate metaphor for Musk’s current standing—an overcompensating billionaire desperately grasping at relevance.
