US citizens found guilty of the recent attacks on Elon Musk’s company could face up to 20 years in prison, the president has said
US President Donald Trump has suggested that those convicted of the recent spate of attacks against Tesla facilities could be sent to El Salvador’s notorious mega prison.
Tesla dealerships and vehicles in the US have been targeted by numerous attacks in what US Attorney General Pam Bondi has labeled “domestic terrorism.”
In a message on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, Trump suggested that people found guilty of the attacks could be sent to El Salvador’s penal system.
“I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20 year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla,” he wrote.
Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions!
The backlash against Tesla is partly attributable to CEO Elon Musk’s role as adviser to Trump. As government efficiency czar, Musk is overseeing significant budget cuts and reductions in the federal workforce.
Since late January, dozens of attacks have targeted Tesla cars, dealerships and charging stations in the US and Canada, sometimes accompanied by anti-Musk graffiti. Multiple cars and charging stations have been set on fire with Molotov cocktails, and several incidents have included gunshots being fired at dealerships.
Three people have been charged for fire-bombing the EVs and charging stations so far, according to a press release on Thursday from the US Department of Justice. All three face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Last month, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele suggested Washington could send its convicts, including US citizens, to serve time in El Salvador’s notorious jail system. The comment came as Trump has embarked on a crackdown on illegal immigration and gang violence.
El Salvador’s mega-prison, the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), was built to incarcerate suspects detained under a 2022 national emergency measure taken to combat gang violence. The facility has since been criticized for its harsh conditions, including overcrowding and limited access to basic amenities. Human rights organizations have raised concerns about allegedly inhumane treatment of inmates within the prison.
