Oh the victim signaling of Cybertruck owners.
— Jessica Wildfire (@jessicawildfire.bsky.social) October 16, 2025 at 12:51 PM
This is the very definition of a journalistic set-up — but, of course, the ‘victims’ are all too happy to show off their Proud, Defiant Lifestyle Choice. From Wired, “Spit On, Sworn At, and Undeterred: What It’s Like to Own a Cybertruck”:
Aside from a MAGA hat, there is likely no object that feels more emblematic of US president Donald Trump’s return to the White House than the Tesla Cybertruck. The blunt angles and steel doors look futuristic, for sure, but only if the future looks a lot like RoboCop. To some, it’s a metallic status symbol. To others, it’s fascism on wheels. Either way, heads turn.
Cybertruck owners see things differently. “To me, it’s just a vehicle that I love,” says Andrew Castillo, a stock trader from Los Angeles. “It has no political affiliations at all to me.”
We’re standing in the parking lot of McCormick’s Palm Springs Classic Car Auctions. All around us, a dozen Cybertruck owners—and their cars—bake in the 100 degree heat. They’ve arrived for a meetup organized by Michael Goldman, who runs the 53,000-person Facebook group Cybertruck Owners Only. Though suspicious of the media, they’re eager to set the record straight about the car that they love. WIRED is here to learn how it feels to be out in public in such a politically charged vehicle. Has the past year or so changed anyone’s minds about owning the truck? Do owners like the attention—or are they adding bumper stickers decrying Elon Musk?…
Name: Russ Taylor
Age: 44
Location: Ladera Ranch, Orange County, California
Job: Runs a business called Smugglers Runs, which does “postapocalyptic off-road” ralliesWhen did you order your truck?
When I first saw it come out, [Elon Musk] was like, “Go to Cybertruck.com.” Before he even finished the sentence, I was already there and put in my reservation. I loved just the style, the look, it’s totally unique for sure. And obviously there’s total polar opposites of people on the design scale, but I loved it. I’ve always been kind of a cyberpunk, so I fell in love with it right away.How do you feel about becoming a political lightning rod?
People occasionally just flip [me] off or whatever, but nobody’s come up to me and tried to make a statement about anything. Personally, it’s kind of dumb. It’s just a vehicle. So it’s ironic that it would even become a political statement, but nonetheless it is. [Editor’s note: Taylor was arrested and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding in the January 6 attack on the Capitol. He was later pardoned by President Trump.]
Low-Stakes Schadenfreude Open Thread: CyberTruculentPost + Comments (81)
