Senator Mark Kelly strongly rejected remarks from former President Donald Trump and the United States Department of Defense that labeled his public call for troops to resist unlawful orders as seditious. Kelly, a retired Navy captain and former astronaut, described his message as straightforward: members of the military must follow the law.
The dispute stems from a video Kelly and five other lawmakers released, urging service members to refuse illegal commands. Trump and the Pentagon accused Kelly of incitement and threatened recall to military duty or court-martial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Kelly said the threats are an attempt to silence dissent and insisted he won’t be bullied into silence.
Kelly’s military service and Senate position place him in a unique role: he emphasized that reminding the armed forces of their duty under the Constitution is both lawful and necessary. He characterized the pushback as politically driven and said he remains committed to oversight of military and presidential powers.