Sen. Mark Kelly Ditches Tesla After Musk's 'Traitor' Comment

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) isn't just responding to Elon Musk with words—he's taking action. Following Musk's accusation that he is a "traitor" for supporting Ukraine, the Arizona Democrat decided to get rid of his Tesla. Kelly cited Musk's political behavior and treatment of veterans as the main reasons for his decision.

Kelly Sells His Tesla Over Musk's Politics

Taking to social media, Kelly expressed his disappointment in Musk's leadership. He explained that he could no longer support the billionaire's company. "I bought a Tesla because it was fast like a rocket ship. But now, every time I drive it, I feel like a rolling billboard for a man dismantling our government and hurting people. So Tesla, you're fired!" he wrote.

In a follow-up video, Kelly reinforced his criticisms, saying, "Every time I get in this car in the last 60 days or so, it reminds me of just how much damage Elon Musk and Donald Trump are doing to our country. Talking about slashing Social Security, cutting health care for poor people and seniors. It's one bad thing after another."

As a former Navy combat pilot and astronaut, Kelly expressed additional concern regarding reports that Musk's Department of Government Efficiency was laying off veterans. "I'm a veteran, so I have a really hard time driving around in this thing. I think it's time for an upgrade today," he remarked.

His final stance on Musk? "Elon Musk turned out to be an asshole. I don't want to be driving a car built and designed by an asshole."

A Union-Made Replacement

Shortly after announcing his choice to abandon Tesla, Kelly introduced his new vehicle—a Chevy Tahoe manufactured by union labor in Arlington, Texas. In his announcement, he stated, "New ride is here. Built by union labor here in America thanks to @UAW!" He praised the Tahoe as "incredibly reliable" and emphasized the importance of supporting American workers.

The Ongoing Dispute Between Musk and Kelly

The senator and the billionaire have been clashing publicly over the situation in Ukraine. Recently, Kelly visited the war-torn nation and reaffirmed his support for ongoing aid, stating, "Just left Ukraine. What I saw proved to me we can’t give up on the Ukrainian people. Everyone wants this war to end, but any agreement must protect Ukraine's security and can't be a giveaway to Putin."

In response, Musk bluntly called him a "traitor." Kelly was quick to retort: "Traitor? Elon, if you don't understand that defending freedom is a basic tenet of what makes America great and keeps us safe, maybe you should leave it to those of us who do."

Dismissing Musk's Comments

Speaking to reporters, Kelly dismissed Musk's comments, describing him as "not a serious guy" and likening him to "a 12-year-old." "I've served our country in the Navy for 25 years. When I was 22, I swore an oath to defend the Constitution. I've lived that oath my entire life. I’m not sure if Elon has sworn an oath to anything—probably to billionaires like himself," he said.

Kelly also criticized Musk for his decisions that negatively impacted veterans in the federal workforce. "I had veterans in my office last week who had excellent performance reports yet found out Elon Musk fired them for poor performance. He was ruining these people’s lives … they didn’t deserve to get fired by an email from an unelected billionaire."

Senate, Tesla, ElonMusk