Country music star Sheryl Crow is facing widespread ridicule after announcing she sold her Tesla as a form of protest against Elon Musk’s association with the Trump administration. The nine-time Grammy winner made the announcement in an Instagram post over the weekend, writing, “My parents always said… you are who you hang out with. There comes a time when you have to decide who you are willing to align with. So long Tesla.” The post included a video of Crow’s black Tesla being towed away.
Crow, a longtime Democratic supporter and vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, also revealed she would be donating money to NPR. The publicly funded media outlet has been at the center of political controversy, with ongoing discussions about potentially stripping its federal funding due to accusations of left-wing bias. The debate was reignited after NPR CEO Katherine Maher made comments about the First Amendment and platform regulation during an event with the Atlantic Council. “The number one challenge here that we see is, of course, the First Amendment in the United States,” Maher stated. She went on to describe it as a “fairly robust protection of rights” that presents challenges in addressing what she referred to as “bad information” and influence-driven narratives.
In her post, Crow wrote, “Money donated to @npr, which is under threat by President Musk, in hopes that the truth will continue to find its way to those willing to know the truth.” She also encouraged her followers to contact their congressional representatives to “push back against President Musk.” The reference to Musk as “President” was met with confusion from some users, as Musk is not an elected official.
The post quickly went viral, drawing a wave of criticism and mockery. Many commenters pointed out that Tesla had already profited from Crow’s initial purchase of the car, making her protest largely symbolic. Conservative commentator Gunther Eagleman responded by sharing a photo of Crow alongside convicted Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, writing, “You are who you hang out with, right?” Political commentator Ann Coulter added to the online backlash, sarcastically stating, “With Her Musical Career Behind Her, Sheryl Crow Is Now Selling Used Cars.”
Cheryl Crow hasn’t been relevant in like 20 years. Just one less democrat driving a tesla to laugh at. pic.twitter.com/PSRRBVvOtj
— Dara Marchica (@Dara1Marchica) February 15, 2025
The controversy also caught the attention of Brendan Carr, a former FCC commissioner who has been vocal about defunding NPR. Carr weighed in on the situation via X, formerly Twitter, writing, “I know celebrities are hesitant to weigh in on hot button issues, so I appreciate Sheryl Crow making an argument here — not through words alone, but through her actions — that Congress should not force taxpayers to subsidize NPR. Bravo.” He followed up with another post suggesting that if more celebrities followed Crow’s lead and sold their cars, NPR could operate without taxpayer funding.
Another celebrity unable to make news of her own rides Elon Musk’s rocket fumes. Cheryl Crow sold her Tesla and gave the money to NPR then put up a video of it. The closest thing she’ll ever have to making music video or a hit again. 25 years is a long time to not be trending. pic.twitter.com/su7a8Bd1JY
— Colette Harrington (@sweetcarolinatv) February 15, 2025
Crow’s protest comes amid continued efforts by the Trump administration to cut down on government spending, with a particular focus on auditing federal agencies. Musk’s DOGE initiative, aimed at reducing government waste, has been a central part of these efforts. The billionaire entrepreneur has maintained that his goal is to make government operations more efficient despite criticism from Democratic lawmakers and activists.
In the words of Cheryl Crow: “You are who you hang out with.” 🤔 pic.twitter.com/zjRWw3IBii
— 🌺Liv (@PatriotLiv) February 16, 2025
Musk and Trump are expected to discuss the initiative, as well as the president’s first 100 days back in office, during an upcoming interview with Fox News. The interview is anticipated to cover a range of policy topics, including government accountability, federal budget reforms, and the administration’s approach to technology and media regulation.
Crow has not responded to the backlash surrounding her post, and it remains unclear whether her protest will inspire similar actions from other public figures. Meanwhile, Musk has not directly addressed the controversy, instead continuing to focus on Tesla’s latest innovations and his broader efforts in space exploration and AI development.
