Sen. Mark Kelly Sparks Backlash for Mexico Jersey
Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) faced criticism on Sunday for wearing a Mexico soccer jersey during a World Cup viewing event.
He posted a photo of himself with a group decked out in the same jersey while watching the Mexico vs. England match. In the caption, Kelly noted, “A lot of people come to Tucson to watch Mexico play England. Tucson and LaRosa know how to do a World Cup!”
The reaction on social media was swift. Some users expressed outrage, with one remarking, “Mark, I say this with all due respect… you’re a disgrace to America.” Another added, “What a clown. Go to Mexico, you bastard.”
One person even shared a juxtaposition of Kelly with influential figures like Mao and Stalin, stating, “Because China isn’t in it. Right?” Others chimed in, criticizing his attachment to another team after their loss: “So you’re Mexican now? What a loser. Oh… and your team lost too.”
This post quickly gained traction online, leading to millions of views and countless frustrated replies from U.S. soccer fans who felt disheartened by a sitting senator seemingly supporting a rival nation.
This isn’t the first time Kelly has stirred controversy. Reports from last November highlighted a Department of the Army investigation regarding serious misconduct allegations against him. He faced accusations of “incitement” from former President Donald Trump after he, along with others, urged military and intelligence officials to defy “illegal orders” from the administration.
In 2022, it was reported that Kelly consistently voted against border security measures, which many blamed for contributing to the open border crisis under former President Biden. Critics, including Arizona Senate Republican candidate Blake Masters, claimed that Kelly had allowed foreign interests to exploit American farmland, leading to further scrutiny of his policies.
Masters remarked, “Personally, I don’t want to be colonized by an overbearing foreign regime bent on destroying us, but I wonder if Mark Kelly has found some common ground with the Chinese Communist Party.”
