Musk protesters and supporters face off at Tesla

Some of the protesters and counter-protesters during last Saturday’s Tesla Takedown demonstrations near the company’s dealership in Mount Kisco. MARTIN WILBUR PHOTOS

By MARTIN WILBUR

Activists staged the largest protest outside the Mount Kisco Tesla dealership on March 22 since weekly demonstrations in the village began shortly after President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.

As many as 500 people lined both sides of Kisco Avenue in front of and across the street from the dealership at one point, one of about 200 nationwide protests that was dubbed “Tesla Takedown.” For the first time at the location, local participants were joined by a much smaller group of supporters of the President and Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk, who was tabbed by Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency — DOGE— and cut federal government spending.

Chanting slogans and holding signs displaying messages such as “Deranged Oligarch’s Greedy Endeavor” and “Deport Musk,” anti-Musk protesters from around the Hudson Valley each had their personal motivations for participating, from the potential erosion of democracy, to an administration that they believe favors the extremely wealthy to fear that the future of Social Security will be compromised.

“I guess the bottom line for us is I’m concerned democracy is being taken away from us and the first line of defense are the most vulnerable people that we have in society, and the House and the Senate seem to be poised to pass cuts that are going to hurt these folks in a significant way,” said Alan Levy of Brewster. “I feel that it’s important to speak out against it because it might be the first domino to fall on the way to the end of our democracy and I don’t want that to happen.”

Another demonstrator, Kim Christensen of New Rochelle, described Musk as an unelected bureaucrat put in charge to impose Trump’s will over the federal government. She fears that the constant threat of tariffs could crash the U.S. economy.

“I’m protesting Musk’s role in this administration,” Christensen said. “He was not elected and Trump has given him astounding control over the finances of the economy, which belongs to Congress. Under the Constitution it has the power of the purse and they’re not taking it, Musk is taking it, which is unconstitutional.”

Most of the pro-Trump and Musk crowd stood directly in front of the dealership. While they were significantly outnumbered with about 50 supporters on hand, they tried their best to match the volume and presence of their counterparts.

Luigi Sinapi, who traveled from Poughkeepsie to participate, said he wanted to support Tesla and many of the positions taken by the current administration. Sinapi was one of the counter-protesters who accused Musk and Trump critics around the country of spreading misinformation about the possible demise of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and for trying to hurt Tesla, including the vandalization of vehicles at dealerships and comparing Musk and the administration to Nazis.

He pointed to how the many conservatives who were angered after Budweiser had used a transgender person in an advertising campaign a couple of years ago made their feelings known through boycotts.

“I’m not against them protesting against Elon; I’m against them damaging the trucks,” Sinapi said. “We didn’t do that against Budweiser. It’s an American company. We protested them for a couple of weeks, we let them know we were upset and then we went and moved on. These people want to destroy everything. That’s the problem.”

A woman who identified herself only as Helen from Mount Pleasant pointed fingers at the anti-Musk and Trump crowd, arguing that just a few years ago Musk was highly regarded in progressive circles for creating a revolutionary electric vehicle that would help in the fight against climate change. Now they detest the world’s richest man simply for helping the president execute his agenda.

“What (Trump) is doing now is delivering on his campaign promises,” she said. “We knew it was going to happen and we all voted for that. Do I agree with absolutely everything he is doing? No, I do not and I have a right not to agree with him on everything. But compared to Biden, who literally put this country in a hellhole for four years, I support Trump.”

A man who identified himself as the manager of the Mount Kisco Tesla directed all questions to the company’s corporate headquarters in Austin, Texas. Messages and emails from The Recorder posing questions about the impact of the protests on the company across the nation were not returned. Shares in Tesla stock have lost more than 29 percent in 2025 through April 1.

Some Tesla owners unperturbed

Despite the controversies surrounding Musk and their opposition to the administration’s stance on many issues, a couple of local Tesla owners and electric car advocates said they had no plans to abandon their vehicles.

Mike Corso of Chappaqua, who has owned or leased four different Teslas, said the market for EVs is strong and progress will continue to be made by electric car manufacturers. He said the car is “arguably the best product in America,” and the company is consistently upgrading its models, which can be programmed into individual vehicles.

While Corso acknowledges he is worried with the approach Musk is taking in his role with DOGE, the protests outside dealerships across the U.S. are irrational and unwarranted and are unlikely to sway Musk or the administration, he said. 

“So for people to attack Teslas or vandalize Teslas, to show such ignorance, it’s very insensitive to people who innocently bought Teslas and are just going about their daily lives,” Corso said. “They don’t need vandalism; they don’t need to be in the crosshairs. There’s no need for Tesla owners to be in the crosshairs because the founder of the company is doing or saying things that people might find objectionable.”

Another owner, Ben Serebin of Pleasantville, a Tesla owner since 2016 who currently has two cars, said Teslas are vastly superior to any other electric vehicle. While DOGE is undoubtedly causing harm, Musk has many positive accomplishments. Serabin said he would buy another Tesla should he have the need.

“Overall, yes, there are some negatives, but to me the positives outweigh the negatives and I think the DOGE situation, I think that’s a situation the courts are going to address. I think that’s the correct approach to leverage,” Serebin said. “But people can protest. We have freedom of speech, so let them go out there and protest.”

However, one former Tesla owner who attended last week’s protest said he recently got rid of his car because of actions by Musk and the administration. The man, who asked that his name not be used, said he is an attorney who represents families who have children with disabilities, and the threatened dismantling of the federal Department of Education and other services is alarming.

“I don’t want to be affiliated with him,” the protester said. “I’m not worried about vandalism; I had to get out of the car. There are other cars that are EVs.”