A 98-year-old World War II veteran recently made headlines by driving a Sherman tank over a Tesla Model 3 in a dramatic protest against Elon Musk’s alleged far-right political connections. This viral video of the car crushing stunt has sparked debate about political activism, vehicle safety, and the relationship between wealth and political influence.

Key Takeaways

• Ken Turner, a 98-year-old WWII veteran, drove a Sherman tank over a Tesla Model 3 in May 2025 to protest Elon Musk’s alleged far-right support
• Despite being crushed by a 33-ton tank, the Tesla vehicle showed surprising structural resilience
• The protest was organized by Led By Donkeys, an activist group known for theatrical political statements
• The event coincided with Tesla’s declining European sales, down 37% in Q1 2025
• The viral video garnered millions of views, with #TankvsTesla trending for 48 hours on social media

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRSohtVF1Hc

The Ultimate David vs. Goliath Showdown

On May 8-9, 2025, Ken Turner, a British World War II veteran and former Royal Engineer, made a powerful statement by driving a vintage M4 Sherman tank over a Tesla Model 3. The dramatic event was organized by activist group Led By Donkeys as a protest against what they claim is Elon Musk’s support for far-right political movements across Europe.

The contrast between the vehicles was stark: the Sherman tank weighing between 66,800–84,000 lbs (33 tons) versus the Tesla Model 3’s modest 3,862–4,048 lbs. Despite this 16-fold weight difference, the Tesla’s lower frame and doors survived the crushing, highlighting the vehicle’s impressive structural integrity.

Turner’s statement, “We’ve crushed fascism before, and we’ll crush it again,” explicitly connected historical struggles against authoritarianism with current political concerns about modern tech billionaires’ influence. The Tesla’s license plate was customized to read “FASCISM” as part of the theatrical demonstration.

Political Context Behind the Tank vs. Tesla Showdown

The protest specifically targeted Musk’s alleged financial backing of far-right political parties, including Germany’s AfD. Turner and the Led By Donkeys organization sought to highlight how Musk’s Tesla-derived wealth has potentially enabled him to exert political influence across Europe. References were made to Musk’s role in the newly created “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) within the current administration.

This dramatic demonstration follows previous protests, including a 2024 incident where “Heil Tesla” was projected onto the Berlin Gigafactory. The timing of the event was deliberately symbolic, occurring near Victory in Europe Day to draw parallels between historical fascism and contemporary political movements.

The protest comes amid Tesla’s struggling European sales figures. According to Electrek, Tesla experienced a 37% year-over-year decline in Q1 2025 European sales, with particularly steep drops in April: 62% in the UK, 46% in Germany, 59% in France, and 67% in Denmark. These figures suggest that Musk’s controversial political stances may be affecting consumer behavior in European markets.

The Sherman Tank’s Historical Significance

The choice of a WWII-era M4 Sherman tank was no accident. These tanks were instrumental in the 1944 Normandy invasion, symbolizing Allied resistance to fascism. Ken Turner himself is a Purple Heart recipient who fought in the Battle of Normandy, adding personal weight to this political statement.

The Sherman tank used in the demonstration featured the classic 75mm M3 gun and .50 caliber machine gun, typically operated by a 5-person crew including a commander, driver, gunner, loader, and co-driver. The deliberate reuse of this historical military equipment created a powerful visual connection between past struggles against authoritarianism and current political concerns.

By using equipment that fought actual fascism in World War II to crush a symbol of Musk’s corporate empire, the protest created a multi-layered statement about the political landscape of 2025. The historical weight of having a WWII veteran operating WWII equipment to make a modern political statement resonated with many viewers.

Explosive Social Media Reaction

The stunt quickly went viral across social media platforms, with Stephen Woodford’s analysis video surpassing 1 million views within just 24 hours. On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag #TankvsTesla trended for 48 hours, generating heated debate from both supporters and critics.

Reactions to the demonstration were deeply polarized:

• Critics condemned the destruction of a functional Tesla as wasteful and environmentally irresponsible
• Supporters praised the symbolic defiance against what they viewed as Musk’s problematic politics
• Technical observers noted the Tesla’s surprising durability, with ironic comments like “The tank lost”
• Others debated the effectiveness of property destruction as a form of political protest

The viral nature of the content demonstrated how theatrical activism can transcend traditional media channels, reaching audiences that might otherwise remain unengaged with political discourse. The dramatic visuals of a 98-year-old veteran operating a tank proved particularly compelling across demographic groups.

Tesla’s European Sales Crisis

The protest coincided with Tesla’s ongoing sales struggles in European markets. According to Jalopnik, Tesla’s UK market share dropped from 12.5% in 2024 to 9.3% in 2025. In Germany, only 885 vehicles were sold in April 2025 compared to 1,643 during the same month in 2024.

Industry analysts suggest several factors contributing to this decline:

• Growing consumer backlash against Musk’s political statements
• Increased competition from European and Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers
• Production issues at the Berlin Gigafactory
• The failure of the Model Y refresh to excite the European market

While Tesla maintains that these figures represent temporary setbacks related to product cycles and supply chain challenges, many industry observers connect the sales decline directly to Musk’s polarizing reputation in Europe. The tank demonstration may further complicate Tesla’s European recovery strategy.

Led By Donkeys: Masters of Provocative Protest

The activist group behind this demonstration, Led By Donkeys, has a well-established history of high-profile, theatrical political campaigns. Initially known for their Brexit billboards, the group has shifted focus to targeting what they perceive as threats to democracy, including Musk’s political activities.

By deliberately choosing a symbolic date near Victory in Europe Day for this demonstration, Led By Donkeys created a moment that transcended traditional media boundaries. Their approach combines historical imagery with contemporary issues to create emotionally resonant political statements that often generate significant social media engagement.

The organization’s name itself comes from a phrase describing World War I military leadership—”lions led by donkeys”—further connecting their work to historical struggles against authoritarianism. Their sophisticated use of media and symbolism has made them particularly effective at creating viral moments that spark broader political conversations.

Unexpected Outcome: Tesla’s Engineering Excellence

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the demonstration was how it inadvertently highlighted Tesla’s engineering quality. Despite being crushed by a 33-ton tank, the Model 3’s structural resilience impressed many observers. The doors remained functional despite roof collapse, and the fortified battery pack design (though the high-voltage battery had been removed pre-stunt) showcased impressive safety engineering.

The Tesla Model 3’s Euro NCAP 5-star safety rating from 2019 was given unexpected real-world validation during this protest. The vehicle’s low center of gravity and reinforced passenger compartment demonstrated why Tesla vehicles have earned top safety ratings across multiple testing agencies.

This created an ironic situation where a protest against Tesla and Musk ended up displaying one of the company’s core strengths: building vehicles with exceptional structural integrity and passenger protection features. Some observers noted that if a vehicle can withstand being crushed by a tank, it might perform exceptionally well in conventional crash scenarios.

Sources

brobible.com – Elderly WW2 Veteran Crushes Tesla with Tank
teslarati.com – Anti-Elon Musk Group Crushes Tesla Model 3 Sherman Tank
tribune.com.pk – Watch World War 2 Veteran Runs Over Tesla In Anti-Musk Protest
electrek.co – Tesla Sales Continue Crash In Europe Despite New Model Y
jalopnik.com – Tesla Sales Fall Germany UK
worldwar2facts.org – M4 Sherman Tank Facts