Elon Musk has long been the linchpin of Tesla's appeal, commanding unbelievable hype that has elevated the automaker to a stellar stock position while giving it cultural staying power. But the marriage is getting ugly.

The backlash against the electric vehicle company has intensified as the billionaire ally of President Trump exerts his power over the federal government.

Elon Musk's right-wing political involvement is potentially alienating Tesla's customer base, leading to a significant drop in sales, especially in Europe. While other factors may contribute to Tesla's slump,