Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) is facing a wave of criticism from conservatives after publicly cheering for Mexico during the World Cup instead of backing Team USA, prompting renewed questions about patriotism, national identity, and the message elected officials send during a major international competition.
Kelly, who often portrays himself as a moderate despite consistently voting with the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, sparked the backlash with a post on X showing himself wearing a Mexican national team jersey while attending a World Cup watch party in Tucson.
“Lots of people out in Tucson to watch Mexico take on England,” Kelly wrote. “Tucson and La Rosa sure know how to do the World Cup!”
While many soccer fans support teams based on family heritage or personal connections, conservatives argued that an American senator publicly rooting for another nation—particularly while the United States is competing in the same tournament—is a deeply misguided display.
The reaction online was swift.
“You can’t even pick a winning non-American team to treasonously support. Total loser,” one commenter wrote.
Another added, “It’s your country’s 250th birthday. Where’s your USA jersey?”
Others questioned why a sitting U.S. senator would choose to publicly support one of America’s biggest soccer rivals instead of his own country.
“Why are you rooting for Mexico? I’m sincerely curious,” one user asked. “Are you going to be out supporting USA against Belgium?”
Another commenter struck a more measured tone while still criticizing Kelly’s decision.
“I’m happy for the Mexican people to support their team. And anybody who has Mexican heritage. I think that’s cool. But you are not Mexican. Mexico is a huge rival of the United States in soccer. Everybody knows this. I don’t know who advised you to put on a Mexican jersey as an American politician, but it’s a horrible look.”
Conservative media personalities also piled on.
OutKick founder Clay Travis questioned whether any elected American official should publicly support another country’s team during an international tournament involving the United States.
“What do we think about U.S. politicians putting on jerseys from another country—in a tournament the U.S. is playing in—and rooting for the foreign country in public?” Travis asked. “Zero percent chance any American sports fans I know would do this.”
CNN contributor Scott Jennings also mocked Kelly’s post, writing, “Modern Democratic Party: wear another country’s jersey and post a photo of yourself taking a photo of yourself.”
The controversy unfolded as President Donald Trump was delivering a very different message during an America 250 celebration at Mount Rushmore, emphasizing patriotism, national pride, and American exceptionalism.
“In America, we speak English because that is the language of our founding,” Trump declared to loud applause. “That has been the language of freedom.”
The president went on to celebrate the country’s spirit of determination and achievement.
“Americans honor excellence. We admire boldness. We respect ambition,” Trump said. “What is great can be made greater than ever before. And that’s what’s happening with America.”
Trump continued by praising the nation’s resilience and willingness to tackle impossible challenges.
“Show us a mountain, and we’ll climb it. Show us an ocean, and we’ll cross it. Show us a problem, and we will solve it,” he said.
Closing his remarks, the president underscored what he described as America’s enduring strength and resolve.
“An American always wants peace and order, but we will never shrink from danger or threat,” Trump said. “We will always fight, fight, fight—and win, win, win.”
For many conservatives, the contrast between Trump’s celebration of American pride and Kelly’s decision to don a rival nation’s jersey could not have been more striking. While supporters may argue Kelly was simply embracing Tucson’s strong Hispanic culture, critics contend that elected officials should never hesitate when it comes to publicly backing the United States on the world stage.
