In a new viral video, a diesel truck driver rolled coal over dozens of Tesla protesters peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights.

It’s not clear which side is which at this point.

“Rolling coal” is a term used when truck drivers with modified diesel engines deliberately emit large amounts of black or grey smoke, sometimes directed at specific cars or people – often as a form of anti-environmentalism protest or to be obnoxious.

It is illegal in most jurisdictions due to violating clean air laws. 

Tesla drivers used to be the target of diesel truck owners rolling coal. I wrote about it several times to point out that some truck owners hate Tesla for no reason.

It’s impressive how quickly the world changes.

Now, you have thousands of people around the US protesting at Tesla locations. You would think that those Tesla-hating truck drivers would be on the protesters’ side, but that’s not the case anymore.

Instagram user Pierce6.4 posted a video of himself rolling coal in his Ford F-250 6.4 on protestors in front of a Tesla store this weekend:

The video went viral and was reposted by several pages on Facebook and X. Most commentators on Pierce’s page joked about how he should have gotten closer.

Not only are rolling coal diesel truck drivers now against peaceful people protesting Tesla, but some Tesla fans and shareholders are with those diesel truck drivers.

On a Tesla shareholder’s Facebook group, a top contributor posted the video favorably, and another added he is surprised to be on the same side as the diesel truck driver:

It shows a clear divide within Tesla fans as the brand and its CEO are increasingly politicized.

Electrek’s Take

We live in the weirdest timeline possible. A few years ago, peabrain truck drivers were rolling coal on Tesla drivers to protest against electric vehicles.

Now, you have environmentalists protesting Tesla and truck drivers rolling coal on Tesla protestors.

If you would have told me this is where we would be just 3 years ago, I would have never believed you.

First off, there’s obviously no excuse for this. These people peacefully protested, which is their right under the US Constitution.

Attacking them like that is not only dangerous and polluting, but it is, at its core, un-American.

Secondly, the fact that they are people who call themselves Tesla fans cheering shows that the community has lost its moral compass.

It’s all about money and the stock; it’s not about the mission anymore.

Where is the outrage from Tesla fans? I have condemned vandalism against Tesla vehicles and property, but this is objectively worse. It’s a direct physical attack on Tesla protesters. It’s not acceptable.

As a long-time Tesla fan and defender of its mission to accelerate the world’s transition to electric vehicles and renewable energy, I never felt so disconnected from this community.

This highlights Tesla’s main issue right now under CEO Elon Musk: it is becoming an entirely politicized brand.

For the left, Tesla is Musk’s personal piggy bank to finance the rise of fascism in the US.

For the right, Tesla is Musk’s personal piggy bank to finance the rise of fascism in the US

While that’s happening, Tesla can’t succeed at its mission to transition the world to a sustainable economy, and we all lose.