Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) found himself at the center of a firestorm on Friday after announcing that he was ditching his Tesla as a protest against Elon Musk and President Donald Trump. But instead of earning applause, Kelly was met with a wave of online ridicule, with many Americans pointing out just how out of touch his decision seemed.
Kelly posted a video on X (formerly Twitter), standing next to his Tesla, dramatically announcing that he was driving it to work “for the final time.”
“When I bought this thing, I didn’t think it was going to become a political issue,” Kelly lamented, as if electric vehicles have never been a hot topic in Washington.
He went on to claim that every time he got behind the wheel in the past two months, he was reminded of “just how much damage Elon Musk and Donald Trump are doing to our country.”
From Virtue Signal to PR Disaster
Kelly then dropped what he thought was a mic-drop moment: “Elon Musk kind of turned out to be an asshole. And I don’t want to be driving a car built and designed by an asshole.”
Well, the internet had some thoughts.
One user responded, “You are soooo brave! Look at you go! Captain America right here everyone.”
Another wrote, “Do you think Elon cares? He already made the profit off you, now you’re taking a wasteful loss on your purchase price…..just like a typical politician to waste money!”
Perhaps the most pointed remark came from a user who asked, “Can I have it? My truck broke down and I could really use a vehicle. Just sayin’. Some Americans don’t have the choice to just give up their vehicle cause they don’t like the owner of the car company.”
Hypocrisy? Maybe Just a Little
The roasting didn’t stop there. Some users noted the irony that while Kelly was boycotting Tesla, he wasn’t giving up his X account (which, of course, is also owned by Musk).
“I’m sorry you hate America so much.. very sad,” one user wrote.
Another chimed in, “But not giving up your X account, huh?”
And, in the ultimate reality check, someone wrote, “Let’s see your climate-friendly new Chevy Tahoe. Nice choice. Btw, did you fly private to Ukraine last week?”
The Left’s War on Tesla
Kelly’s Tesla tantrum is just the latest example of leftists trying to turn Musk’s company into the ultimate villain. Ever since Musk took over Twitter and started advocating for free speech (including reinstating Trump’s account), the left has been in meltdown mode.
Some progressives have even started calling Tesla vehicles “Swastikars,” as noted by Breitbart News earlier this month, citing a report from The Guardian. Apparently, it’s no longer about fighting climate change—it’s about punishing anyone who doesn’t fall in line with the woke agenda.
The Real Reason for the Outrage?
Kelly has also taken issue with Musk’s role in leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era initiative aimed at cutting government waste. He’s accused the program of “ruining people’s lives.” But considering how bloated and corrupt Washington’s bureaucracy has become, it’s no wonder the American people seem to disagree.
In fact, a recent Harvard CAPS/Harris poll found that DOGE’s mission under Musk is widely popular. Americans are tired of their tax dollars being wasted on pet projects, and Musk’s push to clean up the mess seems to be resonating.
So, while Sen. Kelly is making a big show of selling his Tesla, Musk is busy running one of the most successful car companies in the world, championing free speech, and helping cut government waste. Something tells us he won’t be losing any sleep over this one.
