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Anna Commander is a Newsweek Editor and writer based in Florida. Her focus is reporting on crime, weather and breaking news. She has covered weather, and major breaking news events in South Florida. Anna joined Newsweek in 2022 from The National Desk in Washington, D.C. and had previously worked at CBS12 News in West Palm Beach. She is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University. You can get in touch with Anna by emailing a.[email protected].
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Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, who was at the center of a fiery back-and-forth with billionaire Elon Musk this week, posted a video on Friday in which he announced plans to get rid of his Tesla.
Newsweek reached out to Kelly’s office via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy pilot and astronaut for NASA, visited Ukraine this month and issued a statement regarding the war-torn country and its future sovereignty. Kelly outlined his trip, which consisted of meeting with Ukrainian nurses, service members and learning about American aid helping those on the ground, he said.
The senator concluded his thread on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday, saying in part, “The world will become a very cold and lonely place if we continue this ridiculous ‘screw you, go it alone’ foreign policy.” Reacting to his post, Tesla CEO Musk said, “You are a traitor,” sparking a contentious exchange.
What To Know
In a post to X on Friday, Kelly said in a video message that he drove to work in Washington, D.C., for the last time in his Tesla. When he bought the vehicle, the senator said, he didn’t predict it would become “a political issue.”
Kelly went on to note his displeasure with President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) headed by Musk, adding he has “a really hard time driving around in this thing.”
Concluding, Kelly said, “So this is going to be my last trip in this car. There’s some things I really like about it, there are things I didn’t like about it. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is you know doing the right thing. I think it’s time to get rid of it. Elon Musk kind of turned out to be an a******. And, I don’t want to be driving a car built and designed by an a******. So, looking forward to my new ride.”
What People Are Saying
Kelly posted to X on Friday: “I bought a Tesla because it was fast like a rocket ship. But now every time I drive it, I feel like a rolling billboard for a man dismantling our government and hurting people. So Tesla, you’re fired! New ride coming soon.”
Former Trump aide Sean Spicer replied to Kelly on X: “Im glad to come pick it up”
John Cardillo, formerly of the New York City Police Department, who frequently comments about the GOP on X: “No one cares you gun grabbing warmongering leftist. We can honor your military and NASA service while being disgusted by your behavior in the Senate.”
Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont on X this week: “Senator Mark Kelly is a combat fighter pilot and Navy captain who bravely served his country. Elon Musk is a multi-billionaire trying to dismantle the VA who called Kelly, a veteran who put his life on the line, a ‘traitor.’ Disgusting.”
What Happens Next
It is immediately unknown what car Kelly will drive next or if he has spoken to Musk or the Trump administration after sparring with the Tesla CEO on X.
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About the writer
Anna Commander is a Newsweek Editor and writer based in Florida. Her focus is reporting on crime, weather and breaking news. She has covered weather, and major breaking news events in South Florida. Anna joined Newsweek in 2022 from The National Desk in Washington, D.C. and had previously worked at CBS12 News in West Palm Beach. She is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University. You can get in touch with Anna by emailing a.[email protected].
Languages: English
Intermediate Spanish
Anna Commander is a Newsweek Editor and writer based in Florida. Her focus is reporting on crime, weather and breaking …
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