What happened?
Sen. Mark Kelly says he was stunned — but not surprised — when President Donald Trump responded to his military-law video with threats and calls for extreme punishment. Kelly told MSNBC that he “would have been shocked if any other president did this,” but once he read Trump’s tweet, “it all made sense.”
According to Kelly, the Pentagon’s new formal review into his actions has nothing to do with military law or the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
“This is not about the law. It’s about the media cycle. It’s about intimidation,” Kelly said.
Why is he being investigated?
The Pentagon announced Monday that it is reviewing allegations of misconduct related to a video Kelly recorded with several Democratic lawmakers. In the message, they reminded service members and intelligence officers:
“Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.”
However, the statement sparked explosive backlash from Trump. Kelly said the president publicly suggested he should be executed, hanged, or prosecuted, and even hinted he might send people to “go get them.”
Kelly described the remark as a warning that Trump could “send a mob” after him and the other lawmakers.
Kelly’s explanation of the warning video
When Rachel Maddow asked what “illegal orders” concerned him, Kelly pointed back to Trump’s past comments.
He noted that in 2016, Trump insisted the military would obey him even if orders were unlawful. Kelly also recalled reports that Trump once suggested shooting protesters in the legs, an idea senior military officials rejected.
Kelly said Trump has recently spoken about using the Insurrection Act, deploying troops to more U.S. cities, and treating American streets like training grounds.
“We wanted to remind service members that the law matters—and that we have their backs,” he said.
“Instead, he told the world we should be hanged.”
Kelly refuses to back down
Despite the Pentagon review and Trump’s attacks, Kelly said he will not be silenced.
“I’m not going to be intimidated,” he told Maddow.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
