Trump and Hegseth Criticized for Constitutional Misunderstanding Following Senator Kelly‘s Defense of Troop Rights
WASHINGTON – Senator Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., asserted that facing a potential court-martial for advising service members on their rights regarding illegal orders “just doesn’t make any sense,” following criticism from President trump and Fox News host Pete Hegseth. The controversy stems from a video released by Kelly and other Democratic lawmakers reminding active-duty troops they are not obligated to follow unlawful commands,a message delivered amid scrutiny of the Trump management’s deployment of National Guard troops to U.S. cities.
The exchange highlights a fundamental disagreement over the balance of power between civilian authority and military obligation, raising concerns about the potential erosion of constitutional safeguards for service members. The Pentagon has launched an investigation into Kelly for possible violations of military law related to his participation in the video, prompting accusations from the Senator that President Trump is effectively declaring allegiance to the Constitution a capital offence. This dispute arrives at a time of heightened political tension and ongoing debate about the appropriate role of the military in domestic affairs.
Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy fighter pilot, addressed the situation during an interview with NPR’s All Things Considered.He responded to the White House’s initial characterization of the video as “seditious behavior, punishable by DEATH,” which has since been partially retracted.Kelly interpreted the president’s remarks as a statement that “loyalty to the Constitution is punishable by death.”
the video’s release coincided with legal questions surrounding the deployment of National Guard troops to cities experiencing unrest. hegseth, on Fox News, echoed the President’s initial condemnation, contributing to a narrative that the lawmakers were undermining military discipline. kelly countered that the video simply reiterated established legal principles protecting service members from being forced to carry out illegal orders.
The full interview with Senator Kelly is available for listening online. The Pentagon’s investigation remains ongoing, and its outcome coudl have meaningful implications for the future relationship between lawmakers and the military, and also the protections afforded to service members who question the legality of orders.
