Mark Kelly touts new SUV after saying he was ditching Tesla

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) touted his new vehicle on Sunday after he announced last week he would ditch his Tesla amid an ongoing back-and-forth with Elon Musk, the CEO of the electric vehicle company.

In a video posted Sunday to the social platform X, which Musk owns, Kelly showed off what he called his "new ride" while standing next to a Chevy Tahoe SUV in Washington.

"Got one of these in Tuscon as well. This one was made by union labor, United Auto Workers in Arlington, Texas. Always good to buy union cars, incredibly reliable," Kelly said in the video. "And I'm looking forward to driving this for many, many years."

It came just two days after he said he would look for a new ride since his Tesla was "built and designed by an a--hole."

“Every time I get in this car in the last 60 days or so, it reminds me of just how much Elon Musk and Donald Trump is doing to our country," he said in a video last Friday.

"Talking about slashing Social Security, cutting health care benefits for poor people, for seniors. It’s one bad thing after the next,” he said, in reference to Musk's leadership of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) efforts.

Kelly, a former U.S. Navy combat pilot, said Musk is also firing veterans.

“I’m a veteran. So, I have a really hard time driving around in this thing,” he said of his Tesla last week. “I think it’s time for an upgrade today.”

“Elon Musk kind of turned out to be an a‑‑hole, and I don’t want to be driving a car built and designed by an a‑‑hole. So, looking forward to my new ride," he added.

Earlier last week, Musk called Kelly a “traitor” on social media in response to the Senate Democrat's trip to Ukraine earlier this month.

Kelly slapped back at Musk, writing on social media, “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."

He later told MSNBC's "Rachel Maddow Show" that “the only oath I can think of that maybe Elon has sworn is an oath to his own checking account, to his pocketbook.”

Kelly's ditching of his Tesla comes amid a bigger protest against Musk for his involvement in DOGE, which has led to mass layoffs, spending cuts and access by DOGE agents to sensitive personal information.

Tesla’s stock has plummeted more than 50 percent since late last year, while demonstrations are popping up at the electric vehicle company’s showrooms across the country.

Musk has also faced backlash in Europe for his criticism of the Ukrainian government and support for far-right political parties on the continent. The Tesla CEO admitted Monday he is having “great difficulty” running his various companies while juggling the work of DOGE.

Topics

Sen. Mark Kelly ditching his Tesla: 'Built and designed by an a‑‑hole'

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly (D) says he’s looking for a “new ride” and is going to get rid of his Tesla, which he says was “built and designed by an a‑‑hole.” “I’m here in Washington driving to work ...
The Hill - 3d
Sen. Mark Kelly says he's giving up his Tesla

Tesla sales are down, its stock prices are slumping and the Elon Musk-led electric vehicle company has just lost another previously satisfied customer in the U.S. Senate: Mark Kelly of Arizona. ...
CBS News - 3d
Democratic Senator Mark Kelly to let go of his Tesla over Musk’s federal cuts

Arizona senator had also clashed with billionaire over the latter’s ‘traitor’ jibe after Kelly posted about his Ukraine visit. The Arizona Democratic senator Mark Kelly announced he was ditching ...
The Guardian - 3d
Mark Kelly fires back at Musk over 'traitor' accusation

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) hit back at tech billionaire Elon Musk after he called Kelly a "traitor" for visiting Ukraine and demanding the United States stand with Ukrainians in their ongoing war ...
The Hill - Mar. 10
Sen. Mark Kelly says Elon Musk is "not a serious guy"

Elon Musk called Sen. Mark Kelly a "traitor" after the Arizona Democrat posted on X about his recent trip to Ukraine.
CBS News - 6d
Mark Kelly ditches his Tesla

Politico - 3d
Trump says he’s buying ‘brand new’ Tesla to support Musk

President Trump said he would be buying a “brand new” Tesla to support his senior adviser Elon Musk, as the stock market shows shares of the electric car company tumbling. “To Republicans, ...
The Hill - 6d
Musk calls Sen. Kelly a 'traitor' over trip to Ukraine, Kelly hits back

Elon Musk called Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly a "traitor" in a post on X after Kelly posted that he had visited Ukraine over the weekend.
ABC News - Mar. 10
Elon Musk calls Sen. Mark Kelly a 'traitor' over his social media posts in support of Ukraine

Kelly, a former Navy combat pilot, responded to the tech billionaire’s remark by saying “he’s not a serious guy” and should “go back to building rockets.”
NBC News - Mar. 10