Arizona Senator Mark Kelly shakes the hand of a Ukrainian soldier during his visit to Kyiv.
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly exchanged harsh words with billionaire presidential advisor Elon Musk Monday morning after Musk called Kelly a “traitor” for supporting military aid to Ukraine.
"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 on the social media platform X, which Musk owns. Kelly's post includes a screenshot of Musk's now deleted response.
Kelly returned from his third trip to Ukraine on Sunday, where he heard from local military officials about the need for U.S. aid.
“Being on the ground to speak with Ukrainian commanders and soldiers and see how weapons are being used gave me a window into what Ukraine needs to beat Putin," Kelly said in a press release. “What has struck me more than anything on both of my visits to Ukraine is the courage of the Ukrainian people and the innovation of the Ukrainian military as they defend their home against one of the largest militaries in the world. It’s critical that we get them what they need to be successful. Now, more than ever, the U.S. must remain an unshakable partner in the fight against Putin’s illegal invasion.”
His visit comes after the United States paused military aid to Ukraine following a tense February meeting between President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
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