Protest art erupts outside Elon Musk vs. Sam Altman trial with giant Musk cutout and robot chains

On April 27, jury selection began at the Oakland, California, federal courthouse for a high-stakes legal showdown between tech CEOs Elon Musk and Sam Altman.

Outside the building, a giant cardboard cutout of Musk—dripping wet in swim shorts—stared down onlookers, while someone in a robot costume led two protestors around in chains. These visual spectacles are part of a larger protest emerging around the trial, which began with opening arguments on April 28.

The trial stems from a 2024 lawsuit filed by Musk, arguing that OpenAI and Altman abandoned the company’s original mission to develop AI for humanity’s benefit—not profit. Musk provided key funding for OpenAI when it was founded in 2015 but later clashed with Altman over the company’s direction, launching competitor xAI in 2023.

Essentially, the trial amounts to two of the world’s richest and most powerful men dueling over the future of AI—and airing personal grievances in the process.

Protestors unite under ‘Everyone sucks here’

The most prominent group organizing outside the Musk v. Altman trial is Tesla Takedown, an action coalition that led nationwide protests against Tesla dealerships in 2025.

In a post to Action Network, the group announced a gathering on April 27 titled “Musk vs Altman: Whoever Wins, We Lose.”

“Elon Musk is losing the AI arms race as xAI flails and stumbles. If he wins this case, he severely damages the leader and gives himself a chance to catch up.”

“Meanwhile, [Altman] is helping Trump build killer robots and mass surveillance and bringing the U.S. closer to a ‘technofascist’ state.”

The post concluded with a call for protestors to arrive at the courthouse with signs and art under the theme: “EVERYONE SUCKS HERE.” Attendees delivered.

Weaponized ridiculousness: Protests echo Portland’s ICE demonstrations

Monday’s protest art mirrored late-2025 demonstrations in Portland, Oregon, against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Those protests used humor—animal costumes, memes, and silly songs—to critique the Trump administration. Similarly, Oakland’s protestors now wield humor to spotlight their message.

Inflatables, robots, and swimsuit-clad cutouts take over

At least four inflatables mocking Musk appeared in the crowd, including a bright red tube man waving its arms while displaying the text “ELON SUCKS.” Protestors also customized inflatable punching bags with Musk and Altman’s faces, inviting passersby to take swings.

Other visuals included a giant inflatable shark with “MUSK SUCKS” emblazoned on its side and a “WELCOME TO OPENAI” sign featuring a toilet bowl, a nod to Musk’s 2018 tweet calling OpenAI “a nonprofit company controlled by me.”