Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott Rebukes Reporter, Calls Question 'Racist' Amid Scrutiny Over $163K Taxpayer-Funded SUV

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is facing scrutiny after a local report identified his primary official vehicle — a 2025 Jeep Grand Wagoneer — as carrying a total project cost of $163,495. The disclosure prompted questions about procurement, spending priorities and whether the figure fairly reflects the vehicle’s purpose and required security upgrades.

Report, Response and Procurement Details

Fox Baltimore reported that the Wagoneer’s total project cost — which the report says is nearly twice that of the next-most expensive executive vehicle in Maryland — raised concerns about taxpayer spending. The mayor’s office says the figure represents a total project cost that includes safety, security and communications modifications required by the Baltimore Police Department’s Executive Protection Unit (EPU), such as emergency lights, sirens and communications gear.

A city spokesperson said the vehicle was procured in February 2025 at a normal manufacturer’s suggested retail price and that the supplier contract was approved by the Board of Estimates on September 18, 2024. Officials also noted that executive vehicles are typically replaced every four years because they are used more intensively than private cars and therefore accumulate miles and require maintenance more quickly. Replaced vehicles are often repurposed for other official duties or sold at auction.

The Press Exchange

At a press conference, after being pressed about the vehicle’s cost, Mayor Scott dismissed the line of questioning as "idiotic" and described the reporting as part of a "right-wing" effort to discredit him. He also told a reporter,

The cupola of Baltimore City Hall May 12, 2019.

"Just because you didn’t get the answer that you wanted in your racist slant, that’s one thing."

The remark prompted immediate reaction on social media, largely from conservative commentators and elected officials who accused Scott of using race to deflect from questions about fiscal responsibility.

Political and Budget Context

Critics pointed to the Wagoneer’s fuel efficiency — roughly 14 miles per gallon — and to the city’s fiscal challenges: Baltimore is contending with an estimated $85 million budget shortfall. In defending himself, Scott compared the Wagoneer’s cost to the reported price of President Donald Trump’s armored limousine, the so-called "Beast," arguing the Fox report did not adequately account for inflation or political context.

Dispute Over 'Most Expensive' Claim

The mayor’s spokesperson disputed the assertion that Scott’s vehicle is the state’s most expensive executive vehicle, saying the Fox report did not obtain documentation from every jurisdiction and compared vehicles across different procurement cycles and security protocols. The spokesperson also pointed to the 2016 executive vehicle that the Wagoneer replaced and said that previous vehicle had served beyond the normal replacement cycle.

Notably, the spokesperson’s statement did not directly address the mayor’s comment about a "racist slant." The exchange has intensified debate over municipal spending, procurement transparency and whether questions about official expenses are being fairly framed or politicized.