I grew up in Michigan — the beating heart of American manufacturing. I come from a place where people take pride in working with their hands, clocking in every day, building things that last. The folks I knew growing up weren’t celebrities or CEOs. They were coaches, neighbors, veterans, and volunteers. They worked in auto plants and machine shops, took care of their families, served their country, and gave back to their communities. They are the strength behind the American economy and, in many ways, the soul of this nation.
That’s why I find the current hostility toward Tesla — and by extension, Elon Musk — so deeply troubling.
Let me be clear: I understand disagreeing with Musk’s politics. I understand not liking his eccentric behavior or his public persona. That’s fair game in a free society. If you don’t like what he stands for, don’t buy his products. That’s your right. That’s the marketplace. That’s America.
But what we’re witnessing now from parts of the far left isn’t healthy criticism. It’s not protest rooted in principle. It’s targeted outrage, defamation, and in some cases, political stunts designed to damage one of the most innovative American companies in modern history. And whether people realize it or not, this campaign doesn’t just hurt Elon Musk. It hurts over 70,000 hard-working Americans who rely on Tesla for a paycheck. It hurts the families that depend on those paychecks. It hurts the communities where these factories operate. And it undermines the very ideals we claim to champion as a nation.
Tesla isn’t some foreign conglomerate with offshore production and cheap labor practices. Tesla vehicles are over 85% made in America — the highest percentage of any car brand on the market. That means Tesla supports American suppliers, American engineers, American line workers, and American families. It is, quite literally, the most American automobile you can buy today.
So why the contempt?
Somehow, outrage has overtaken reason. People are so caught up in who Elon Musk is, or what he posts online, that they’ve lost sight of what Tesla actually represents: a company pushing the boundaries of clean energy, investing billions in domestic manufacturing, and providing good-paying jobs for American workers in places that need them most.
I’ve seen this before. Growing up in Michigan, I watched as ideological wars — often waged from the comfort of the coasts — decimated communities built on manufacturing. I saw towns lose their factories, their jobs, and their sense of purpose, all while politicians made speeches and pundits scored points. And I see the same pattern again today — but this time, it’s being directed at a company that is doing things right. That’s the part I can’t stay silent about.
This isn’t about defending a billionaire. It’s about defending the people who build the future of this country — the people who show up every day, put in the work, and don’t get the credit. The people who don’t live on Twitter but live paycheck to paycheck. Who care more about keeping their kids safe and their lights on than they do about political theater.
The very people who are now being caught in the crossfire of a culture war they didn’t sign up for.
We say we care about working-class Americans. We say we care about climate change, innovation, and American industry. But when it comes to Tesla — a company that checks all those boxes — we suddenly turn a blind eye, because the CEO isn’t politically convenient? That’s not leadership. That’s hypocrisy. And it's beneath us.
We are better than this.
We are a country that should be able to disagree on politics without trying to destroy each other. We are a country that should champion innovation when it creates American jobs. We are a country that should remember that behind every corporate name are real people — families, communities, futures.
This isn’t just about Tesla. It’s about what kind of country we want to be.
So no, I don’t expect everyone to agree with Elon Musk. I don’t expect everyone to drive a Tesla. But I do expect us to think twice before turning our backs on the very workers who keep this nation running.
Because at the end of the day, if we let outrage become more important than the wellbeing of our own people, we lose something far more valuable than a political argument — we lose our moral compass.
And that’s something America can’t afford.
Look—I know not everyone listening drives a Tesla. I know not everyone likes Elon Musk. And that’s fine. We don’t have to agree on everything. But we should be able to agree that when outrage culture starts threatening jobs, families, and the strength of American industry… we’ve gone too far.
If this episode challenged your thinking or gave you something worth talking about, do me a favor: share it with someone who might need to hear it. Let’s bring the conversation back to what matters—impact over image, people over politics.
Make sure you’re subscribed for more episodes like this, and as always—stay principled, stay engaged, and never forget who we’re fighting for.
Until next time.
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