Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) isn't just responding to Elon Musk with statements—he's putting his money where his mouth is. After Musk accused him of being a “traitor” for supporting Ukraine, the Arizona Democrat announced he was ditching his Tesla, citing Musk's political actions and treatment of veterans as reasons for the switch.
Kelly took to social media to share his frustration with Musk's leadership, saying 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 posted.
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In a video, Kelly doubled down on his criticism, stating, “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 benefits for poor people, for seniors. It's one bad thing after the next.”
Kelly, a former Navy combat pilot and astronaut, also took issue with 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 said.
His final verdict 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.”
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New ride is here. Built by union labor here in America thanks to @UAW! pic.twitter.com/wfpNmY1qkZ
— Captain Mark Kelly (@CaptMarkKelly) March 16, 2025
Shortly after announcing his decision, Kelly revealed his new vehicle—a Chevy Tahoe built by union labor in Arlington, Texas.
“New ride is here. Built by union labor here in America thanks to @UAW!” Kelly posted, giving a nod to the United Auto Workers. In a video, he praised the Tahoe as “incredibly reliable” and emphasized the importance of supporting American workers.
The senator and the billionaire have been publicly clashing over Ukraine. Kelly recently visited the war-torn country and reaffirmed his support for continued 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 has to protect Ukraine's security and can't be a giveaway to Putin.”
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Musk, who has been criticized for his stance on Ukraine in the past, responded bluntly: “You are a traitor.”
Kelly didn't hold back in his response. “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.”
Speaking to reporters, Kelly dismissed Musk as “not a serious guy.” “He's like a 12-year-old, so I don't take him seriously. I served our country in the Navy for 25 years. When I was 22 years old, 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. If I was to guess, probably to billionaires like himself.”
Kelly also criticized Musk for firing veterans from the federal workforce despite their strong performance. “I had veterans in my office last week who, after really good performance reports, found out that Elon Musk fired them for poor performance. He was ruining these people’s lives ... they did not deserve to get fired by an email from an unelected billionaire.”
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This article After Musk Called Him A Traitor, Senator Kelly Got Rid Of His Tesla—'I Don't Want To Drive A Car Built By An Asshole' originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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