Tesla, the electric vehicle giant, is reeling from a catastrophic 71% profit crash in Q1 2025, with net income plummeting to $409 million from $1.39 billion a year ago. The staggering decline, announced on April 22, 2025, sent shockwaves through Wall Street, with revenue dropping 9% to $19.3 billion and vehicle deliveries falling 13% to 336,681 units—the company’s worst quarter since 2022. Amid this financial turmoil, CEO Elon Musk stunned investors with a chilling 12-word statement: “If the ship of America goes down, Tesla will go with it.” This bold claim, made during a tense earnings call, ignited fierce reactions online, with over three million fans and critics clashing over Tesla’s future.

The profit collapse stems from multiple headwinds. Musk’s controversial role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has sparked global backlash, with protests targeting Tesla dealerships and vandalism incidents reported in the U.S. and Europe. Demonstrators, enraged by Musk’s political ties and DOGE’s federal job cuts, have boycotted the brand, eroding Tesla’s appeal among liberal EV buyers—a key demographic. Meanwhile, competition from China’s BYD, which saw a 75% sales surge in Europe, and aging models like the Model 3 and Y have further eroded Tesla’s market share. The Cybertruck, hyped as a game-changer, sold only 38,965 units last year, far below Musk’s 250,000-unit goal.

Musk’s 12-word warning tied Tesla’s fate to America’s economic stability, a dramatic pivot from his usual optimism. He attributed the sales slump to macroeconomic uncertainty and trade policies, dismissing brand damage claims despite a 53% stock drop since December 2024. “Absent macro issues, we don’t see any reduction in demand,” Musk insisted, though analysts disagree, citing his polarizing persona as a major factor. Posts on X exploded, with supporters praising his candor—“Elon’s tying Tesla to America’s success is bold!”—while detractors mocked, “He’s blaming everyone but himself for Tesla’s nosedive.”

Facing pressure, Musk announced he’d scale back DOGE work to one or two days a week starting May 2025, refocusing on Tesla. He doubled down on future bets, promising affordable models by June 2025 and a robotaxi service in Austin. However, skepticism abounds. Analysts warn Tesla’s high price-to-earnings ratio—nine times that of rivals—signals overvaluation, and Trump’s proposed tariffs could further squeeze profits. A CNN poll revealed 53% of Americans view Musk negatively, compounding Tesla’s branding crisis.

The fallout has broader implications. Tesla’s stock, down 15% in a single day in March, faces a potential 50% pullback, per analysts like Ross Gerber. As Musk navigates this storm, his 12 words have become a rallying cry for some and a dire warning for others. Can he steer Tesla back to dominance, or is this the beginning of a deeper decline? The nation watches, divided, as Tesla teeters on the edge.