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98-Year-Old Veteran Uses World War Tank to Protest Against Elon Musk in Symbolic Action Against the Far Right in Europe
A 98-year-old British veteran of World War II drew attention by driving a restored Sherman tank over a Tesla Model 3 in a political protest in rural England. The action was organized by the activist group Led By Donkeys as a direct criticism of Elon Musk and his alleged support for the European far right.
Symbolic and Historical Act
The crushed car, with a sign reading “FASCISM,” served as a symbol of the protest’s target: the perceived connection between Musk and authoritarian movements.
The tank used was a Sherman, an Allied military vehicle in the fight against European fascism in the 1940s. The scene was planned to evoke the historical past of democratic struggle and contrast it with the billionaire’s current political alliances.
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Ken Turner, the veteran responsible for the act, was decorated for his participation in the Allied campaign in Europe. Before taking the wheel of the tank, he made a firm statement: “We defeated fascism before, and we will defeat it again.”
Criticism of Musk’s Political Alignment
The protest was not just a visual spectacle. It was a political theater designed to show concern over what activists see as a dangerous ideological trajectory. For Turner and his supporters, Elon Musk is using his power and fortune to support far-right parties and ideas.
In his statement, Turner said: “Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, is using his immense power to support the far right in Europe.” He also pointed out that Tesla’s money finances, in the group’s view, the advance of authoritarian policies.
Viralization and Reaction in Europe
The video of the protest went viral on social media, drawing attention to the alleged support Musk has given to the German party Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The entrepreneur’s public actions have also been associated with political figures in the UK and the United States, especially through his connection to Donald Trump’s campaign in 2025.
In Germany, AfD leaders praised his statements and behavior on social media. Meanwhile, in the UK, Musk is linked to figures challenging traditional institutions, which has been seen as indirect support for reactionary populism.
History of Protests Against Musk
This is not the first time Elon Musk and Tesla have been the targets of such protests. In 2024, the group Led By Donkeys teamed up with the German collective Centre for Political Beauty to project an image of Musk at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Berlin. The image showed the businessman in a pose resembling the Nazi salute, accompanied by the phrase “Heil Tesla.”
Musk responded to the act by calling it “performance madness.” However, the incident strengthened the perception that the Tesla brand is becoming politically polarized in Europe.
Impact on Sales and Reputation
The impact of these actions is already being felt in the numbers. Tesla’s sales in Europe sharply fell in the first quarter of 2025. Analysts point out that damage to the company’s reputation could be one of the main causes of this decline.
In countries like Germany, France, and the Nordics, where the historical memory of authoritarianism is strong, consumer sentiment has been affected. Musk’s image as a neutral innovator is reportedly being replaced by an ideological figure.
Reactions Spread Across the Continent
The protests have not stopped there. In France, the group Dernière Rénovation blocked Tesla charging stations with accusations of “fascist greenwashing.” In Sweden, unions organized strikes against the company’s refusal to accept collective bargaining, calling Musk a “corporate autocrat.”
In Italy, leftist students protested in front of a Tesla dealership in Milan. They displayed banners reading: “Kings of Technology, Not Kings of the People.”
As the protests spread, Elon Musk is increasingly viewed by many not just as a businessman but as a political figure facing open opposition from activists, veterans, and workers across Europe.
With information from Interesting Engineering.
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