A 98-year-old WWII veteran drove a Sherman tank over a Tesla Model 3 in a viral stunt organised by Led By Donkeys to protest Elon Musk’s support for far-right political parties in Europe and aimed to highlight his political influence. The stunt has reignited the debate about Tesla’s declining sales in Europe.
On May 8, 2025, British activist group Led By Donkeys released a viral video showing 98-year-old WWII veteran Ken Turner flattening a Tesla Model 3 with a Sherman tank in a muddy UK field, protesting Elon Musk’s endorsement of far-right parties like Germany’s Alternative für Germany (Afd), per The Guardian.
Turner, standing before the tank, declared, “We’ve crushed fascism before, and we’ll crush it again,” condemning Musk’s political alliances, per BBC. Tesla’s “FASCISM” license plate symbolised the group’s view of Musk’s authoritarian leanings, per Reuters.
TANK vs TESLA
"We've crushed fascism before and we'll crush it again"
– WW2 veteran Ken, 98, in the tank
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— Led By Donkeys (@ledbydonkeys.org) 7 May 2025 at 21:46The stunt, trending on social media, follows Musk’s backing of anti-establishment movements since joining Trump’s administration as a senior advisor. Turner’s statement, “Musk’s money comes from Tesla cars,” ties the protest to Tesla’s plummeting Q1 2025 European sales, down 15%, per Financial Times. Led By Donkeys previously projected a “Heil Tesla” image on Tesla’s Berlin factory in 2024.
Musk’s support for far-right groups, including AfD, has drawn sharp criticism. According to The Wall Street Journal, he is considering stepping back from his Trump role to focus on Tesla and SpaceX.
The protest amplifies concerns about his influence on European democracy, with X users debating his free-speech stance versus authoritarian risks, per Forbes. Tesla’s brand faces pressure as consumer boycotts grow, per The Independent, amid broader scrutiny of Musk’s political actions.
Do you think Elon Musk’s political endorsements should influence consumer behavior? Why or why not?