The video, released by British activist group Led By Donkeys, has gone viral — and sparked fresh debate about the tech billionaire’s influence on European democracy.
Ken Turner, a decorated veteran, is seen in the video confronting Musk’s political alliances, especially his support for parties like Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Standing in front of the camera before climbing into the vintage tank, Turner delivers a defiant message: “We’ve crushed fascism before, and we’ll crush it again.”
TANK vs TESLA “We’ve crushed fascism before and we’ll crush it again” – WW2 veteran Ken, 98, in the tank
— Led By Donkeys (@ledbydonkeys.org) 2025-05-07T16:46:21.866Z
The Tesla, emblazoned with a license plate reading “FASCISM,” was destroyed in a muddy British field, a symbolic takedown of what Turner and the protest group see as the billionaire’s backing of authoritarian ideologies.
“Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, is using his immense power to support the far-right in Europe,” Turner states in the video. “And his money comes from Tesla cars.”
The protest comes amid sharp criticism of Musk’s increasingly active role in global politics.
Since joining President Donald Trump’s administration in a senior advisory capacity earlier this year, Musk has aligned himself with anti-establishment movements in Germany and the UK.
The backlash has already impacted Tesla’s business, with European sales plummeting in Q1 2025.
This isn’t the group’s first jab at Musk.
In 2024, they collaborated with German collective Centre for Political Beauty to project a massive image of Musk mimicking a Nazi salute onto Tesla’s Berlin factory with the phrase “Heil Tesla”.
Musk, under increasing scrutiny, has reportedly considered stepping back from his role in the Trump administration to focus on his companies, though he has not publicly confirmed the move.
As criticism mounts and public stunts like this one gain traction, the battle over Musk’s image — and his cars — appears far from over.