Senator Mark Kelly recently confirmed that his office is now dealing with a significant increase in “graphic” and “violent” threats following President Trump’s public criticism of him, according to The Hill. The Arizona Democrat stated that the situation has escalated dramatically, noting that he’s currently seeing more threats coming in during a single day than his team used to receive over several months.
This wave of intimidation stems directly from a video Kelly released last month alongside five other Democratic lawmakers. The group directly addressed active-duty military and intelligence personnel on X, stating a clear legal principle: “Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.”
The lawmakers involved are certainly qualified to speak on this topic. Kelly, a retired Navy captain and former NASA astronaut, joined Senator Elissa Slotkin and Democratic Representatives Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan, and Jason Crow in the message. It’s important to remember that all six of these individuals have relevant military or intelligence backgrounds, so they definitely know what they’re talking about when it comes to service protocol and the law.
Trump’s messaging was outrageous even by his own standards
President Trump, however, took extreme issue with the video’s message. He responded by calling the lawmakers “traitors” who should be imprisoned. He even took to his Truth Social platform to post that the “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR” was “punishable by DEATH!” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later had to clarify the administration’s position. Leavitt stated last month that while President Trump wants the lawmakers “held accountable,” she made it clear he does not want them executed.
The threats aren’t just aimed at the senator, either. Kelly confirmed that his wife, former Representative Gabby Giffords, has also been directly targeted. This context is critical because Giffords survived being shot in the head during a constituent event back in 2011, which tragically led to her retiring from Congress the following year. She has since become a major advocate for gun reform, making these violent threats especially awful and chilling for the couple.
“We can’t normalize this,” Kelly used the interview to strongly criticize the president’s fitness for office. “That’s one of the problems here, is that Donald Trump is so singularly unqualified for this job as president of the United States, and the things he says [are] so ridiculous, people are starting to get comfortable with it,” the senator noted.
Beyond the threats, the administration also initiated an official review into Kelly last month, which is another form of serious pressure. The Pentagon is looking into “serious allegations of misconduct” which could potentially result in Kelly being recalled to active duty for a court martial. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who is currently dealing with pressure from all aisles, instructed Navy Secretary John Phelan to complete this review by December 10.
Kelly pushed back against this review again on Tuesday, saying he sees the entire effort as an attempt to silence dissent. Notably, Kelly was among the lawmakers who pushed for a full investigation into the controversial strike on the Venezuelan coast. “[Trump] wants to shut people up,” Kelly stated firmly. He added that he won’t let the administration silence him, concluding, “I’m not going to be intimidated by him or Pete Hegseth and his threats to court martial me.”
Published: Dec 3, 2025 02:30 pm