Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly on Monday repeatedly mentioned he wouldn’t be silenced by President Donald Trump and Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth even after the Division of Protection introduced final week that it might be launching a “thorough assessment” of Kelly citing “critical allegations of misconduct.”
“I can’t be intimidated by this president. I’m not going to be silenced by this president or the individuals round as a result of I’ve given an excessive amount of in service to this nation to again all the way down to this man,” Kelly mentioned at a information convention Monday afternoon.
It comes after Kelly and several other different Democrats final month posted a video on social media the place they mentioned that U.S. service members might refuse unlawful orders.
Sen. Mark Kelly holds a press convention on the Capitol in Washington, D.C., Dec. 1, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Kelly slammed Hegseth, calling him “unqualified for this place” and saying Hegseth ought to testify regarding the boat strikes within the Caribbean Sea the place two survivors have been allegedly killed after a second strike was licensed on a ship suspected of ferrying medicine in September.
The White Home confirmed there was multiple strike on the boat. One individual accustomed to particulars of the incident confirmed to ABC Information that there have been survivors from the preliminary strike on the boat and that these survivors have been killed in subsequent strikes.
Kelly, a member of the Senate Armed Providers Committee, mentioned there “must be an investigation” into the strikes following reporting from the Washington Publish that Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill survivors with a second strike. Kelly added that “if there may be anybody who must reply questions in public and beneath oath, it’s Pete Hegseth.”
“I hope what we’re listening to isn’t … correct. I’ll say, although as any person who has sunk two ships myself, that people within the navy want to grasp, , the Legislation of the Sea, the Geneva Conventions, what the legislation says. And I am involved that if there have been, the truth is, as reported, , survivors clinging to a broken vessel, that that may very well be, , over a line. I hope it isn’t the case,” Kelly mentioned.
Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth holds a press convention on the Dominican Nationwide Palace in Santo Domingo, Nov. 26, 2025.
Felix Leon/AFP through Getty Pictures
When requested a few Washington Publish report that Hegseth ordered the navy to kill all passengers aboard the boat suspected of carrying medicine, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned Adm. Mitch Bradley, the top of the US Particular Operations Command, made the order for the second strike.
“Adm. Bradley labored effectively inside his authority and the legislation, directing the engagement to make sure the boat was destroyed and the risk to the US of America was fully eradicated,” Leavitt mentioned Monday.
Requested by ABC Information whether or not the video he posted on social media telling navy members that they’ll disobey unlawful orders was about strikes within the Caribbean, Kelly mentioned it was “not about this particular factor.”
However Kelly did say that he hopes the American individuals are given a possibility to see the authorized argument behind the strikes that lawmakers have been offered throughout closed-door briefings.
In response to the Democrats’ video, Trump — in social media posts — known as them “traitors” who ought to face the dying penalty.
Kelly mentioned that the president’s is supposed to silence people who could need to stand as much as him.
“This is not about me and it isn’t concerning the others in that video, they’re making an attempt to ship a message to retired service members, to authorities staff, the members of the navy, to elected officers and to all Individuals who’re occupied with talking up, ‘You higher maintain your mouth shut, or else,'” Kelly mentioned.
Kelly was requested whether or not he would take part in interviews with the FBI or Protection Division if one was requested as a part of an investigation.
“I’ll observe the legislation,” he mentioned.
Kelly famous the wave of political violence in America, highlighting the assault towards his spouse, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, and focused assaults towards the Trump himself. Trump, he mentioned, needs to be doing extra to chill tensions relatively than inflame them.
“The president’s phrases carry great weight. Individuals hearken to him, and he is aware of that, and that is precisely why he does what he does,” Kelly claimed.
Editor’s word: An earlier model of this story mentioned that the White Home confirmed there have been survivors from a primary strike on the alleged drug boat they usually have been killed in a second strike. It has been up to date to say that press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed there was multiple strike on the boat.
