Southwest
Dem senator mocked online for ditching his Tesla to protest 'a–hole' Musk: 'Stunning and brave'
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., was mocked by conservatives on social media Friday after he posted a video on X explaining he was getting rid of his Tesla because of the optics brought by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who Kelly referred to as an “a–hole.”
Kelly, a retired astronaut, said he bought a Tesla because it was “fast like a rocket ship” but now it feels like “a rolling billboard for a man dismantling our government and hurting people.”
The Arizona senator and military veteran said it’s been difficult driving around in a Tesla knowing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has cut jobs at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Kelly said today would be his last day driving a Tesla.
“When I bought this thing, I didn’t think it was going to become a political issue. 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,” Kelly said in the video, which was viewed over 1.5 million times just two hours after it was posted.
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Sen. Mark Kelly announced on X he is getting rid of his Tesla because of Elon Musk. (Getty Images)
Kelly added in the video that Elon Musk “kind of turned out to be an a–hole” and that he would rather not drive around in a car “built and designed by an a–hole.”
Conservatives on X were quick to mock Kelly’s post.
“Literally the most stunning and brave thing a politician has ever done. It’s so brave that I have actually been moved to tears,” White House rapid responder Greg Price said in a post.
“There are no more ‘moderate’ Democrats,” conservative influencer account Johnny Maga posted on X in response to Kelly’s video.
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House Majority Speaker Mike Johnson’s director of rapid response posted on X that the video shows “Elon Musk lives rent-free” in Kelly’s head.
“‘I bought this product because it’s amazing and I’m only getting rid of it because I don’t like the guy who made it’ is an amazing commercial for Tesla,” conservative commentator Kate Hyde posted on X.
“This is just embarrassing,” Republican strategist Nathan Sproul posted on X.
U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., attends the Democratic National Convention in Chicago Aug. 20, 2024. (Reuters/Vincent Alban)
Conservative podcaster Stephen L. Miller called out the Democrats’ shift from embracing EVs to “getting rid of theirs in like 3 months.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Kelly’s office for comment.
Protests have erupted at Tesla showrooms across the country and have since escalated to instances of vandalism on Tesla vehicles and charging stations. The demonstrations began as protests against DOGE, which has scrutinized wasteful government spending and reduced the massive federal workforce.
President Donald Trump took the driver’s seat of a red Tesla Model S at the White House to support Musk Tuesday, and Tesla’s stock rebounded after facing a steep decline to start the week during the protests.
Democrats were quick to criticize Trump on social media for buying a Tesla at the White House.
“Earlier today, while hard-working Americans were watching their retirement savings plummet, President Trump was filming a Tesla ad in front of the White House to help Elon Musk’s failing stock. This is a brazen conflict of interest and corruption in broad daylight,” Democrats on the House Committee on Financial Services said.
But conservatives called out Democrats for selectively embracing electric vehicles, reminding liberals that former President Joe Biden drove a hybrid Jeep Wrangler 4xe around the White House grounds to promote his EV initiative.
Kelly’s post Friday was the latest escalation in an ongoing social media feud with Musk.
CEO of Tesla and SpaceX Elon Musk speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel and Convention Center Feb. 20, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“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,” Kelly posted this week.
“You are a traitor,” Musk replied.
“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,” Kelly fired back.
Kelly said in a video posted yesterday he would vote “no” on the continuing resolution bill in the U.S. Senate, calling it a “partisan power grab for Donald Trump and Elon Musk.”
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A woman was hospitalized with serious injuries after she was violently attacked by a robber in downtown Long Beach. On June 18, Jennifer Silva, 34, was attending a World Cup watch party at a Hooters restaurant at 90 Aquarium Way. After the game ended, she left the restaurant just before 11 p.m. As she walked […]
Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.
A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.
Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.
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A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025. (Bill Robles) -
The U.S. Dept. of Justice booking photo of Jonathan Rinderknecht over the Palisades Fire devastation in Malibu, California in January 2025 (AP).
Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.
“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”
The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.
Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.
“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.
Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report
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