Elon Musk’s Tesla was kicked out of the Vancouver International Auto Show on Tuesday over fears that just the EV maker’s presence would incite protests. The show’s executive director made the decision for “the safety of attendees, exhibitors, and staff” amid ongoing “Tesla Takedown” demonstrations decrying the billionaire owner and “special government employee” of President Donald Trump. Tesla was given several chances to leave the show voluntarily—but was ultimately forced to withdraw. The anti-Musk movement is spreading across Canada and the U.S., with vehicles vandalized and burned in several provinces and states. Trump has announced that anyone destroying the cars is a domestic terrorist who will “go through hell,” and the president sought to give Musk a boost during a White House photoshoot in which the two looked at Teslas, with Trump eventually selecting one to buy. The Vancouver decision comes amid an escalating trade war between Canada and the U.S. as Trump repeatedly claims he’ll make Canada “the 51st state.” Canadians have expressed a commitment to prioritizing Canadian products and excluding American items from rebates. Musk called the rebate ban “crazy” on X. The Daily Beast has reached out to Musk for comment.
