The mayor of Baltimore dismissed a reporter’s question about his taxpayer-funded SUV as ‘racist’ when grilled about the expensive executive vehicle.
Democratic Mayor Brandon Scott rides in a nearly $164,000 2025 Jeep Grand Wagoneer decked out with about $60,000 of security upgrades including police lights, sirens and a security phone.
The vehicle is the most luxurious official car in Maryland and is around twice as expensive as Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s roughly $82,000 2025 Chevrolet Suburban, according to records obtained by Spotlight on Maryland.
Scott’s SUV is one of just two executive vehicles in the state that cost more than $100,000, with both assigned to Baltimore city officials, the outlet uncovered.
At a press conference on Friday, WBFF investigative reporter Tessa Bentulan asked Democratic Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, ‘How do you justify the cost for this vehicle?’
The mayor replied: ‘We’ll just stop you right there. We get it. We understand that your station has this severe right-wing effort underway.’
After Bentulan pressed further, Scott said: ‘I did answer the question. Just because you didn’t get the answer you wanted and your racist slant is one thing.’
Spotlight on Maryland examined vehicle records from 13 counties in the state, the state comptroller’s office, the governor’s team and the state police.
Democratic Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott slammed a reporter for asking him about his luxury, taxpayer-funded SUV
At a press conference on Friday, Scott called WBFF investigative reporter Tessa Bentulan’s question about his SUV ‘racist’
The outlet found that the next most-expensive vehicle after Scott’s SUV is a $108,000 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe assigned to Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley.
The majority of vehicles assigned to officials in the state’s largest counties ranged in cost from $45,000 to $75,000.
On top of Scott’s $164,000 Jeep, he also has a backup $99,000 2023 Ford Expedition kitted out with $20,500 of security upgrades.
A city spokesperson told Spotlight on Maryland that a second vehicle for the mayor is standard protocol.
During the press conference where Scott slammed Bentulan’s question, he said that comparing the price of vehicles failed to take inflation and model years into account.
‘A vehicle purchased in 2023 is not the same price as 2025,’ the mayor said. ‘Base price of SUVs now are, as you know, between $90,000 and $100,000,’ he added.
But according to Jeep’s website, the price of a 2026 Grand Wagoneer starts below $66,000. The model year of Scott’s Grand Wagoneer is 2025.
Comparable SUVs, such as 2026 Chevrolet Suburban or a 2026 Ford Expedition, both start below $64,000.
Scott’s SUV is a nearly $164,000 2025 Jeep Grand Wagoneer (pictured), which is decked out with about $60,000 of security upgrades, such as police lights, sirens and a security phone
Scott’s SUV is about twice as expensive as that of even Maryland’s governor Wes Moore who rides in an $82,000 2025 Chevrolet Suburban
Other current model year SUVs, such as a 2026 Toyota RAV4 or a 2026 Honda CR-V, start just above $30,000.
Baltimore residents shared their outrage at what they perceive as fiscal irresponsibility .
Local Christian Heath told the Spotlight on Maryland: ‘Not the taxpayers’ money! If he wants it for himself, yeah. But not with our money.
‘Our money should be for the city, the schools, the kids. Just to ride around? We don’t have cars like that.’
Retired Marine veteran Benjamin Luster echoed the sentiment and questioned the need for such an expensive and secure vehicle.
‘Why is it that he says the streets are safe, but he still needs to up armor and get protection for his car? He’s making himself more important than the common folk,’ Luster said.
Ricona Coats, who has lived in Baltimore for two years, said: ‘I don’t think that’s an appropriate price.
‘The safety features I guess I can understand because he’s a government official, but I just think the accountants over there [in City Hall] could be a little more cost-effective.’
Baltimore residents have expressed outrage at the cost of the mayor’s vehicle. Scott and other city officials have defended the cost
Baltimore Councilman Zac Blanchard has defended the price of the mayor’s SUV.
In a public statement, he said: ‘I think buying a nicer SUV with relevant safety and communications enhancements twice a decade is pretty reasonable for a large city’s top elected official.’
David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, a government watchdog, questioned the vehicle’s price.
He told Spotlight on Maryland: ‘The mayor should be protected. The mayor should be comfortable.
‘But you can achieve that for way less than $160,000.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Baltimore Mayor’s Office for comment.
