Sen. Mark Kelly is calling out Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth after facing threats of demotion in his military rank. Kelly fired back after Hegseth said he is aiming to demote the senator for encouraging military members to disobey the Trump administration.
What did Mark Kelly say after Pete Hegseth threatened to demote him?
In his post on X, Kelly said there’s nothing more un-American than Hegseth unjustly threatening to demote him from his military rank.
“If Pete Hegseth, the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in our country’s history, thinks he can intimidate me with a censure or threats to demote me or prosecute me, he still doesn’t get it,” Kelly wrote on X. “I will fight this with everything I’ve got — not for myself, but to send a message back that Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump don’t get to decide what Americans in this country get to say about their government.”
Over twenty-five years in the U.S. Navy, thirty-nine combat missions, and four missions to space, I risked my life for this country and to defend our Constitution – including the First Amendment rights of every American to speak out. I never expected that the President of the…
— Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) January 5, 2026
As The Hill reported, Kelly first spoke up against the Trump administration in November when he joined five other democrats to remind military members that they have the right to refuse illegal orders. As he’s now being threatened with consequences for his stance, Kelly reminded the administration about his decorated resume and said he’s being unjustly targeted.
“Over twenty-five years in the U.S. Navy, thirty-nine combat missions, and four missions to space, I risked my life for this country and to defend our Constitution – including the First Amendment rights of every American to speak out,” Kelly wrote. “I never expected that the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense would attack me for doing exactly that.”
“My rank and retirement are things that I earned through my service and sacrifice for this country. I got shot at. I missed holidays and birthdays. I commanded a space shuttle mission while my wife Gabby recovered from a gunshot wound to the head — all while proudly wearing the American flag on my shoulder,” he added.
What did Pete Hegseth say in his statement against Mark Kelly?
According to NPR, Hegseth said he’s launched a 45-day process in an effort to demote Kelly and reduce his retirement pay. Hegseth brought accusations of sedition against the senator for telling military members they can refuse orders.
“In response to Senator Mark Kelly’s seditious statements — and his pattern of reckless misconduct — the Department of War is taking administrative action against Captain Mark E. Kelly, USN (Ret),” Hegseth said in a statement, NPR reported.