Demonstrators across the globe took to the streets on Saturday in opposition to Elon Musk and his plans to undermine the US federal government, assembling outside Tesla showrooms in countries ranging from Australia to Switzerland and California.
Event organizers encouraged participants to engage in three actions: refrain from purchasing a Tesla, divest from Tesla stock, and support the “Tesla Takedown” initiative. One of the group’s slogans states, “Hurting Tesla is stopping Musk.” They emphasize, “Stopping Musk will help save lives and our democracy.”
Musk, currently the richest individual in the world, oversees Donald Trump’s so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge), tasked with reducing federal budgets in the US, which includes significant layoffs affecting tens of thousands of employees.
Thousands join anti-Musk protests worldwide
With over 200 events scheduled globally, protests began in the early afternoon outside Tesla showrooms in Australia and New Zealand, then expanded across Europe, reaching countries such as Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the UK.
Each demonstration was organized locally, featuring unique themes. In Ireland, it was dubbed “Smash the Fash,” while in Switzerland, the theme was “Down with Doge.”
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Senior FDA official resigns amidst RFK Jr’s ‘misinformation and lies’
A high-ranking health official in the US, regarded as a bulwark against the potential politicization of the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of essential vaccines, has resigned unexpectedly, pointing to health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr’s “misinformation and lies.”
Multiple news outlets reported late Friday, citing sources familiar with the situation, that Dr. Peter Marks had been presented with the option to resign or face termination by a Health and Human Services (HHS) department official, leading to his choice to resign.
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Majority of US Institute of Peace staff laid off en masse
Most employees at the US Institute of Peace, a think tank established and funded by Congress and recently overseen by Elon Musk’s unofficial “department of government efficiency,” received notifications of their collective termination late Friday, marking the latest attempt at downsizing by the Trump administration.
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Harvard’s Middle Eastern Studies center leaders resign
The leaders of Harvard University’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies are resigning amid allegations of anti-Israel bias. Faculty members who spoke anonymously to the New York Times expressed concerns that Cemal Kafadar and Rosie Bsheer were compelled to leave their posts.
These resignations occur as the Trump administration intensifies scrutiny on institutions that have experienced pro-Palestinian protests over the past year.
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Peter Hegseth’s wife participated in confidential meetings with foreign officials – report
The spouse of the US defense secretary Pete Hegseth attended two meetings involving foreign defense officials where sensitive matters were discussed, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. Jennifer Hegseth was present at discussions with UK Secretary of Defense John Healey and another at NATO headquarters in Brussels, according to the report.
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Carlos Watson, former talk show host and Ozy Media co-founder, received presidential clemency from Donald Trump, avoiding a 10-year prison sentence. While en route to a federal correctional facility in Lompoc, California, he was informed of the commutation. In his statement, he expressed gratitude to the president while criticizing the Trump-appointed federal judge who sentenced him, Eric Komitee, labeling him as “conflicted and unethical.”
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Experts caution that health department job cuts could lead to private sector takeover
Extensive job reductions planned for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may pave the way for crucial services to be transferred to private entities, posing risks during potential future health crises, warn health professionals and Democratic lawmakers.
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Other news of the day:
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The New College of Florida terminated a Chinese language instructor under state legislation that limits hiring from “countries of concern” by Florida’s public universities.
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US President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that he did not caution auto industry executives against increasing prices as tariffs on imported vehicles come into effect, claiming to NBC News that he “couldn’t care less” if prices rise.
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The Trump administration has instructed certain French firms with US government contracts to adhere to his executive order prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, underscoring the extraterritorial influence of US policies and their implications for European business practices.
Catching up? Here’s what occurred on 28 March.
