Musk and Tesla have faced heightened criticism since the billionaire made a gesture likened to a Nazi salute during an inaugural event in January.

The repost, later deleted by Musk, said: "Stalin, Mao, and Hitler didn’t murder millions of people. Their public sector employees did.”

Dozens gathered outside a west Houston Tesla dealership Sunday afternoon to protest and display their anger with Elon Musk, his car company and his recent political involvement with President Donald Trump.

"When one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful person in the world is saying you've committed a crime, it doesn't matter what the truth is," said Valerie Costa, an anti-Tesla protester.

Protesters gathered outside Encinitas' Tesla dealership "to bring attention to the danger that the Trump/Musk agenda poses," members said.