Sen. Mark Kelly responds after Elon Musk labels him a traitor over Ukraine

PHOENIX – U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly fired back at Elon Musk after the world’s richest man called the Arizona Democrat a traitor for visiting and supporting Ukraine.

Kelly was in the war-torn nation over the weekend and met with Ukrainian officials, wounded service members and military hospital workers.

The Arizona senator documented his trip on X and explained why he believes the U.S. should be supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia.

One of his posts drew a four-word response from the social media platform’s owner.

“You are a traitor,” Musk commented Monday morning, with no further explanation.

How Mark Kelly responded to being called ‘a traitor’ by Elon Musk

Kelly, a former U.S. Navy combat pilot and NASA astronaut, responded on X a few hours later.

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. pic.twitter.com/9dgmQfg7HZ

— Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) March 10, 2025

“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 posted.

Later Monday, Kelly was asked about Musk’s comment during an interview with Rachel Maddow on MSNBC.

Kelly explained that he took an oath to defend the Constitution when he was sworn into the Navy.

“And the only oath I can think of that maybe Elon has sworn is an oath to his own checking account, to his pocketbook,” he said.

Kelly went on to criticize Musk, whose business empire includes space technology company SpaceX, for the work he is doing for the Trump administration through the Department of Government Efficiency.

“I think Elon needs to, you know, go back to making rockets. … That’s what he should focus on,” Kelly said. “He shouldn’t be focused on this slash and burn of the federal government.”

Kelly alleged that Musk was firing government workers, including military veterans, and cutting the government in other ways to benefit the wealthy.

“He’s doing it for one reason,” the Arizona Democrat said. “He’s doing this so they create a little space so the big, giant tax cuts that they’re going to give for millionaires and billionaires do not look as bad, does not add as much to the debt and deficit,” Kelly said.

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