U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz. said he does not want the country to grow “accustomed” to President Donald Trump’s rhetoric.
In a series of scathing remarks, Kelly accused Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday of misusing their authority to silence political opponents and misunderstanding constitutional limits on power.
“We’ve become so accustomed to Donald Trump's behavior that it is worth emphasizing,” Kelly said on Monday.
“Enough of the bullying, enough of the intimidation, enough of the threats, enough of your nonsense.”
Kelly’s comments follow a video released Nov. 18 by him and five other Democratic lawmakers urging U.S. service members to refuse illegal orders.
“The President of the United States said that two U.S. senators and four members of the House of Representatives should be arrested, hanged, executed for something we said, for something that is true,” Kelly said.
Kelly referred to Trump as an “occupant of the Oval Office” and accused him of bullying people into silence.
“He did it as a failed casino owner who bankrupted his properties and screwed over his contractors…”
“He did it as a reality TV host known for firing people…”
“He's done it as president who tries every day to intimidate people with no regard for the rights or well being of the American people.”
The video did not reference any specific incident, but Kelly has repeatedly raised concerns about a reported September strike in the Caribbean.
According to Washington Post reporting, Hegseth ordered officers to kill all 11 people aboard a vessel suspected of smuggling drugs, even though officials said the boat did not pose an imminent threat.
The strike was one of more than 20 U.S. actions on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in recent months. U.S. officials have described the targets as “narcoterrorists,” though they have not released identities of those killed or evidence substantiating the narcotics claims.
“If there were, in fact, as reported, survivors clinging to a damaged vessel, that could be over a line,” Kelly said. “I hope it’s not the case. I truly do.”
Hegseth rejected the allegations.
Hegseth called the reports “fabricated, inflammatory and derogatory,” arguing that U.S. operations in the region are lawful and approved “by the best military and civilian lawyers, up and down the chain of command.”
As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland.
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) November 28, 2025
As we’ve said from the beginning, and in every statement, these highly effective strikes are specifically…
After the lawmakers’ video was released, Trump posted on social media that the senators’ actions amounted to “seditious behavior, punishable by DEATH.”
While the White House has since distanced itself from the comments, the Pentagon confirmed it is reviewing “serious allegations of misconduct” against Kelly, a retired Navy captain, for his appearance in the video.
In a statement, the department said the review could lead to “recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures.”
Kelly said he learned of the potential investigation through X, formerly Twitter, calling it “ludicrous,” and accused Hegseth of prioritizing social-media attention over the rule of law.
“This is not a serious person,” Kelly said of Hegseth.
Kelly described the video’s message — that service members must follow lawful orders — as “pretty basic stuff.” He also questioned the weight of the president’s warnings.
“How many times in our country’s history have you heard a president say that members of the Senate and House should be hanged and executed?” he asked.
Kelly said threats to his office have “skyrocketed” since Trump’s post, and he referenced his family’s long history with political violence.
His wife, former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was shot while meeting constituents in the Casas Adobes area near Tucson in 2011. Six people were killed and 13 people were injured.
Drawing on his service — including combat flights in Operation Desert Storm and serving on the mission that recovered the remains of the Space Shuttle Columbia crew — Kelly said he would not be deterred.
“I’ve been through a lot worse in service to my country,” he said. “The president and Pete Hegseth are not going to silence me.”
He called for members of the Department of Defense and military leadership to testify before congressional armed services committees about what happened and whether a second strike was ordered.
Kelly has teased a possible presidential run in 2028.
He was on Kamala Harris’s short list of potential vice presidential nominees in 2024.
During a July 27 CNN interview, “State of the Union” anchor Jake Tapper asked, “Yes or no: Are you considering running for president in 2028?”
“I’m not going to give you a yes or no answer,” Kelly said.
