Elon Musk Calls Senator a 'Traitor,' Draws Fire as Political Lightning Rod

Sen. Mark Kelly, a decorated Navy veteran and former astronaut, recently returned from Ukraine with a sobering message about the toll of war and the importance of continued aid. He described the harrowing stories he heard from injured soldiers and nurses in Kyiv, emphasizing the brutality of Russia’s invasion and calling out Vladimir Putin as a war criminal.

Kelly noted that while American support for Ukraine hasn’t come without costs, cutting it off now would jeopardize everything the Ukrainian people have fought for. His passionate account of the war’s impact was met with an incendiary response from none other than Elon Musk, who called the senator a "traitor." Yes, you read that right—traitor. To whom exactly?

Kelly didn’t hold back in his rebuttal, firing back at Musk with a pointed remark: "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." Fair point, especially considering that Kelly’s remarks were part of his duties as a U.S. senator and not some off-the-cuff Twitter rant.

It’s no secret that Musk loves a good fight. The tech mogul, known for his impulsive and sometimes reckless approach to social media, has traded barbs with everyone from Marco Rubio to Steve Bannon. And while his business acumen is undeniable, it’s clear his penchant for drama makes him a magnet for controversy.

Former President Donald Trump wasted no time jumping to Musk’s defense, praising him as a "truly great American" and railing against what he called "Radical Left Lunatics" allegedly boycotting Tesla. In a move that raised eyebrows, Trump even announced plans to buy a Tesla as a show of support, despite his well-known skepticism about electric vehicles.

For his part, Musk hasn’t shied away from controversial takes. He’s previously referred to Social Security as a "Ponzi scheme" and called for drastic cuts to entitlement programs, going so far as to label them "the big one to eliminate." Such remarks have drawn criticism for being out of touch with the realities faced by millions of Americans who rely on these programs.

Meanwhile, Tesla’s stock has taken a beating, dropping 16% on Monday and shaving $140 billion off Musk’s net worth. Adding to the tension, the company has faced a string of violent incidents, including arson at charging stations and protests outside dealerships. Regardless of one’s political leanings, this kind of targeted violence is both unacceptable and illegal. Period.

Elon Musk may dream of colonizing Mars, but his frequent forays into political skirmishes suggest he’s got plenty of Earth-bound battles to contend with first. For now, he remains a lightning rod for criticism, a status he seems to relish even as it complicates his public image.