Baltimore Mayor Faces Criticism Over SUV Price
On Friday, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott reacted strongly to a reporter’s inquiry regarding the hefty price tag of his SUV, which surpasses $163,000. The vehicle in question, a 2025 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, is reportedly the priciest executive car utilized by Maryland state employees as well as a local television station.
According to WBFF, the SUV’s price is nearly double that of the vehicle assigned to Maryland’s Governor, Wes Moore. Tessa Venturan, an investigative reporter associated with WBFF, brought up the vehicle’s cost during an interview with Scott. She asked, “How do you justify the cost of this vehicle?” In response, Scott interrupted, implying that the question was part of a broader right-wing agenda promoted by the station.
As Venturan mentioned a different, previously purchased vehicle’s cost, Scott escalated his response: “I answered the question. Your racist tendencies are one thing because you didn’t get the answer you wanted,” he remarked. WBFF has ties to the Baltimore Sun and WJLA, an ABC affiliate in the DC area, and is under the Sinclair Broadcasting Group umbrella. In 2021, former Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby urged the Federal Communications Commission to probe into WBFF’s license after unfavorable coverage about her surfaced.
The Grand Wagoneer is slated for public sale in October 2025, and Scott previously asserted that its price aligns with other vehicles state employees use. “The new vehicle will serve the same purpose as the old vehicle, which is to get me around,” Scott defended at a press conference on October 1. He suggested that the residents of Baltimore understand that officials like him, the governor, and county executives need transportation.
In contrast, reports indicate that Moore’s 2025 Chevrolet Suburban, which is equipped with over $10,000 in security features, costs $82,141—just over half of Scott’s Grand Wagoneer. It’s worth noting that while Moore has held various public offices, the city of Baltimore spans just 92 square miles.
