Democratic opposition to Elon Musk‘s electric car company continues growing. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) is the latest high-profile figure promising to ditch his Tesla.
“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!” Kelly posted on X, which is also owned by Musk. “New ride coming soon.”
In the accompanying video, Kelly says Friday will be the last time he commutes to work in the black Tesla sitting behind him.
“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 [President] Donald Trump are doing to our country,” Kelly said, referring to the amount of time that has passed since Inauguration Day. “Talking about slashing Social Security, cutting health care, benefits for poor people, for seniors. It’s one bad thing after the next.”
He added that Kelly will be getting an “upgrade” from Telsa, even though he admits there were “some things I liked about it.”
“Elon Musk kind of turned out to be kind of an a** hole,” Kelly concludes. “And I don’t want to be driving a car built and designed by an a** hole.”
What Kelly doesn’t address directly is that his Tesla sales come four days after Musk called him a “traitor” after the Arizona Senator visited Ukraine and shared his thoughts on the war. It’s unclear if that row may have been the final straw for Kelly to quit his EV.
Tesla, once vaunted by figures on the Left as a high-end form of green transportation, has become politically tinged due to Musk’s association with Trump and his work with the Department of Government Efficiency, which has led to thousands of layoffs within the federal workforce.
At the extreme end, Teslas have been burned and vandalized by political protesters, though most Musk critics are content to simply sell their cars.
Tesla stock is trading at just under $250 as of Friday afternoon, down dramatically from a peak of nearly $480 on Dec. 16. However, the stock is still up from this point last year, when it traded for $163, and from five years ago, when Tesla shares could be had for $29.
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Republicans are trying to drive to Musk’s rescue, with Trump hosting a Tesla car show at the White House and conservative stars like Fox News host Sean Hannity and former congressional candidate Lily Tang Williams pledging their support. Musk says he is not worried about his car company and will continue his involvement with the Trump administration.
“It will be fine long-term,” Musk wrote in response to the drop in his stock.