Senator Mark Kelly fires back at Musk after 'traitor' remark over Kyiv trip
US Senator Mark Kelly attends a press conference in Mykhailivska Square, Kyiv, Ukraine (Photo: Getty Images)
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly has once again fired back at Elon Musk after the billionaire repeated his controversial claim that the lawmaker is a "traitor" for supporting wounded Ukrainian soldiers during a recent trip to Kyiv, according to The Independent.
Earlier this month, Elon Musk labeled Senator Kelly a "traitor" in response to his social media post promoting continued US support for Ukraine.
In a recent Fox News interview, Musk stood by his words, stating, "I think somebody should care about the interests of the United States above another country, and if they don’t they’re a traitor." The Tesla CEO insisted that Kelly had placed Ukraine’s interests above those of the US.
Kelly, a former astronaut and combat pilot, addressed the renewed criticism in an interview with CNN, saying, "I don’t even know if he deserves a response. What I will say is that I’ve spent an entire career standing up for our country, defending our country, flying in combat over Iraq, flying in space on the space shuttle, serving in the United States Senate."
Notably, during his latest trip to Kyiv, Kelly also criticized President Donald Trump for suspending intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which he said directly weakened Kyiv’s ability to defend itself from Russian attacks. "One hundred percent," he told reporters when asked whether that loss of intel had tangible consequences on the ground.
Senator defends Ukraine stance and questions Musk’s loyalty
Kelly emphasized that supporting Ukraine aligns with US interests: "Standing with our allies and standing up for democracy is in the best interest of the United States." He also questioned Musk’s allegiances, suggesting the billionaire is now "much closer to Russia on this issue" and "standing with a bunch of billionaires."
In response to Musk’s repeated attacks, Kelly recently announced he had stopped driving his Tesla. In a video posted online, he explained, "Every time I get in this car… 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, firing veterans - it’s one bad thing after the next."
