A growing chorus of Tesla investors, led by one of the company’s earliest backers, Ross Gerber, has publicly demanded that Elon Musk resign as CEO, citing a cascade of scandals and distractions that they argue have plunged the electric vehicle giant into crisis. Gerber, president of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management, aired his grievances in a March 18, 2025, interview with Sky News’ Business Live, hosted by Darren McCaffrey. He pointed to Musk’s increasingly divisive public persona—fueled by his role as a senior advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump and his leadership of the controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—as a key factor tarnishing Tesla’s reputation and driving its plummeting stock value. “The company’s reputation has just been destroyed by Elon Musk,” Gerber said, adding, “Sales are plummeting so, yeah, it’s a crisis. You literally can’t sell the best product in the marketplace because the CEO is so divisive.”

The unrest among investors stems from a confluence of challenges battering Tesla in early 2025. The company’s market value has nosedived by over $800 billion since December 2024, with shares sliding an additional 4% in U.S. trading on March 18. This financial hemorrhage coincides with a softening demand for electric vehicles in Western markets, fierce competition from cheaper Chinese rivals, and the looming threat of heightened costs from Trump’s trade war policies. Adding fuel to the fire, Tesla recently recalled 46,096 Cybertrucks—the eighth such action since the model’s 2023 debut—over a detachable exterior trim piece, amplifying perceptions of operational disarray. Gerber, who has sold off a substantial chunk of his Tesla holdings in recent months, argued that Musk’s sprawling commitments, including his 2022 purchase of X and his political role, have left Tesla neglected. “It’s time for somebody to run Tesla,” he told McCaffrey. “The business has been neglected for too long.”

Musk’s entanglement with Trump’s administration has proven particularly contentious. As head of DOGE, he has championed aggressive cuts to federal spending, including a proposed slashing of the IRS workforce and Social Security reductions, sparking widespread protests under the “Tesla Takedown” banner. Demonstrations have targeted Tesla showrooms across the U.S., with vandalism incidents—including arson at charging stations—further escalating the backlash. Gerber and other investors see Musk’s political foray as a self-inflicted wound, alienating customers and dragging Tesla into a cultural quagmire. “He’s split his time too thinly since Twitter,” Gerber noted, suggesting that Musk must either refocus entirely on Tesla or step aside for a new leader capable of steering the company through its turbulent present.

The call for Musk’s resignation isn’t just about politics—it’s personal for investors like Gerber, who once viewed the CEO as Tesla’s visionary backbone. Musk’s history of controversies, from a 2018 SEC settlement over securities fraud to ongoing probes into misleading self-driving claims, has long tested shareholder patience. Yet, his recent actions—amplified by provocative X posts and a perceived indifference to Tesla’s core mission—have pushed some loyalists to the breaking point. Gerber’s demand echoes a broader sentiment among Tesla’s investor base: the company’s $800 billion empire cannot afford a leader whose personal brand now overshadows its pioneering products. “There are too many important things Tesla is doing,” Gerber said, urging Musk to choose between his government gig and his CEO title.

In true Musk fashion, the embattled billionaire didn’t let the criticism slide quietly. Responding to the Sky News report via X on March 19, 2025, he fired back with a characteristically defiant eight-word retort: “I built this; they can’t take it.” The quip, dripping with bravado, underscores Musk’s refusal to bow to pressure, framing himself as Tesla’s indispensable architect. Yet, it does little to quell the unrest. As Tesla grapples with a stock slump, operational hiccups, and a fractured public image, the investor revolt signals a pivotal moment. Gerber’s plea— echoed in posts trending on X—may be the loudest yet, but it’s unlikely to be the last. Whether Musk doubles down or steps aside, Tesla’s future hinges on a resolution to this clash between its founder’s outsized persona and the company he claims to have forged single-handedly. For now, the standoff continues, with investors watching and the world waiting.