Tesla CEO Elon Musk addressed a social media claim on Saturday concerning an Uber driver using a Tesla vehicle who purportedly received a 1-star rating during ongoing national protests against the automaker. The original post, which surfaced on March 9, showed an image of the Uber driver in the Tesla with text suggesting low ratings were being submitted for Tesla drivers. Shared by “Cherdleys,” the caption read, “This is what Tesla drivers deserve.” The post garnered significant attention on social media platform X, amassing 11.3 million views by Saturday evening.
In response, Musk commented on the platform that the rating was undeserved and called it “plain cruel,” emphasizing that the driver had done nothing wrong. Uber Support echoed Musk’s sentiment, stating that ratings should reflect the quality of service provided. However, Uber did not confirm the validity of the claim about the driver’s rating to Fox News Digital.
This discourse unfolds amid broader national demonstrations and an FBI advisory issued on Friday encouraging the public to remain cautious near Tesla locations due to targeted acts of aggression against Tesla vehicles, charging stations, and dealerships. These incidents, which some officials aim to label as domestic terrorism, have been linked to Musk’s appointment by then-President Donald Trump as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Since the start of 2025, Tesla vehicles have been attacked across at least nine states, involving acts of arson, shootings, and graffiti targeting perceived political adversaries, according to the FBI.
Prior to discussing the social media post, Musk expressed gratitude to supporters of Tesla amidst persistent challenges, urging them to retain their company stock during a meeting at Tesla’s Texas facility. He commented on the intense media coverage, describing it as “feels like Armageddon” and noting frequent news stories about Tesla vehicles being harmed. Musk acknowledged positive sales trends for Tesla’s Model Y and Cybertruck, despite the controversy, and humorously advised detractors against destructive actions, drawing laughter from the audience.
Tesla has not yet responded to requests for comment from Fox Business regarding the situation. The report included contributions from FOX Business’ Greg Norman.
