Elon Musk brands US Senator Mark Kelly a ‘traitor’ following Ukraine visit |
Elon Musk and Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona engaged in a heated online exchange on Monday after Musk called the former Navy pilot a “traitor” for his outspoken support of Ukraine.
The row began when Mark Kelly posted on social media about his recent trip to Ukraine, where he met with military members, nurses, and other citizens affected by the ongoing war.
Kelly said his visit reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Ukraine and stressed that any peace deal with Russia must ensure Ukraine’s security. He also criticised President Donald Trump for trying to weaken Ukraine’s position.
In response, Musk, who has voiced scepticism about continued US aid to Ukraine, fired back on X (formerly Twitter), calling Kelly a “traitor.”
Kelly quickly responded, firing back at Musk: “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 then continued his remarks, stating, “He’s not a serious guy. He should go back to building rockets.”
The Arizona Senator didn’t stop there, later elaborating on his criticism during a session with reporters on Capitol Hill.
“He’s slashed and burned the federal government to make room for a giant tax cut for billionaires like himself. I’ve sworn an oath to this country, I’ve flown in combat, I served in the Navy for 25 years. It appears to me the oath that Elon Musk stands by is the oath to billionaires to make their lives easier, not the American people, not veterans.”
Kelly’s visit to Ukraine came after a controversial February 28 meeting in the Oval Office between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in which Trump and Vance chastised Zelenskyy over what they called a lack of gratitude for US military assistance.
Kelly’s trip was a counterpoint to Trump’s position, stressing that Ukraine’s security must remain a priority in any peace negotiations.
Musk’s comments on Ukraine are not new. In 2023, the billionaire faced backlash after reportedly preventing a Ukrainian attack on Russia’s naval fleet. Musk has also suggested, through polls on social media, that Ukraine should consider giving up Crimea as part of a peace deal with Russia, a stance that has drawn widespread criticism.
This latest exchange is only the most recent in a series of public spats between Kelly and Musk, highlighting the ongoing divide in American politics over the war in Ukraine. While Kelly and other Democrats have voiced support for continued military assistance to Ukraine, Musk has called for a reevaluation of US involvement in the conflict.
