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The Independent UK
The Independent UK

Senator Kelly ditches his Tesla after Musk called him a ‘traitor’ for Ukraine visit and because DOGE head is wrecking nation

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly gestures toward his Tesla, which he got rid of Friday after Elon Must called him a 'traitor' for visiting wounded soldiers in Ukraine, and because Musk is taking a wrecking ball to the nation, the lawmaker complained - (Screen shot X/Mark Kelly)

Fed-up Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, who was scorched as a “traitor” for visiting wounded soldiers in Ukraine by DOGE hatchet man Elon Musk, has dumped his Tesla.

For one thing, he doesn’t want to drive a care designed by an “a**hole,” Kelly, a former astronaut and Gulf War Navy pilot, emphasized in a videotaped statement posted Friday on social media.

For another, it’s supporting a man who is taking a wrecking ball to the nation, he noted.

Kelly said he initially purchased his Tesla because it was ”fast like a rocket ship.” He said he had no idea how much of a “political issue” the car would become.

“Every time I get in this car in the last 60 days or so, it reminds me just how much damage Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing to our country, talking about slashing Social Security, cutting health care benefits for poor people, for seniors [and] firing veterans. It’s one bad thing after the next,” he emphasized.

“Now every time I drive it, I feel like a rolling billboard for a man dismantling our government and hurting people,” he added.

“So Tesla, you’re fired! This is going to be my last trip in this car,” Kelly said.

“New ride coming soon.”

He later rolled up to the Senate in his new 2025 Chevy Tahoe Z71.

So far no new word from the tech billionaire.

Musk last Sunday slammed Kelly, as a traitor for his recent visit in Ukraine with soldiers wounded battling the Russian invasion. In normal times, cozying up to Russia or praising Vladimir Putin would be the more suspicious behavior.

Musk responded to Kelly’s post about the trip on X: “You are a traitor.”

Kelly quickly lashed back Tuesday on the MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show..

The former Navy captain said that when he enlisted in the Navy, “I swore an oath to our Constitution, to protect and defend the Constitution. I have lived that oath my entire life.”

The “only oath I can think of that maybe Elon has sworn is an oath to his checking account, to his pocketbook. An oath, maybe, to ruining the lives of veterans,” he added.

The senator said Musk should “go back” to his rockets. “He shouldn't be focused on this slash-and-burn of the federal government,” Kelly added.

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