A leftist man has been arrested after he drove his car into a pro-Trump counter-protester outside of a Tesla dealership in Idaho.
A 49-year-old supporter of President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk had just parked his truck with pro-Trump flags and exited the vehicle when he was suddenly struck by a car driven by 70-year-old Christopher Talbot, who was reportedly there to attend the anti-Musk rally on March 29. According to authorities, Talbot “made an obscene gesture” toward his victim before hitting him with his vehicle.
🚨🇺🇸 MEDIA HYSTERIA DRIVES VIOLENCE: 70-YEAR-OLD ATTACKED PRO-TESLA SUPPORTER
The viral arrest photo tells only half the story—Christopher Talbot, 70, wasn't defending Tesla from protesters but rather attacking a pro-Trump supporter who came to counter-protest against anti-Tesla… https://t.co/gyoVqz61we pic.twitter.com/gUvAuzP3f9
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 30, 2025
The victim, who has not yet been identified, reportedly drove himself to the hospital after suffering non-life-threatening injuries.
Talbot was arrested at his home soon after the incident, as police were able to trace his license plate number. He is being charged with one felony count of aggravated battery and is being held in the Ada County Jail.
Police released a statement following the incident, where they urged people “to respect everyone’s right to protest and express their 1st Amendment Rights without resorting to violence.”
The incident happened while roughly 30 anti-Tesla activists showed up to the Tesla dealership in Idaho to protest against government cuts imposed by Trump and Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The small crowd was met with roughly 200 counter-protesters who were supporting Musk, Telsa, and Trump.
70-year-old man arrested for plowing his car into a 49-year-old Trump supporter at a Meridian, Idaho, Tesla dealership on Saturday during a protest.
The perpetrator, Christopher Talbot, had made an obscene gesture at the victim before hitting him.
Give Talbot life in prison. pic.twitter.com/9JGZ7Kw0st
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) March 30, 2025
The attack was just the latest in a long line of leftist domestic terrorism against Tesla dealerships, Tesla charging stations, and even individually-owned Tesla vehicles. These attacks have escalated as far as planting incendiary devices in Tesla dealerships, throwing Molotov cocktails at dealerships, and even firing guns at Tesla vehicles and dealerships.
One week before this incident, an incendiary device was found inside a Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas. In another incident in early March, a man later identified as Paul Hyon Kim shot up a Tesla dealership, vandalized it with the leftist slogan “Resist,” and threw two Molotov cocktails at the vehicles outside the building. Thus far, he has been charged with arson and unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm.
There have also been many lower-level attacks on Teslas, including multiple incidents of people keying Swastikas or the word “Nazi” into vehicles, throwing bricks through Tesla windows, and even one instance of a man driving a mini four-wheeler into the side of multiple Tesla vehicles.
