TT Sen. Mark Kelly Goes Nuclear on Kimmel: Calls Defense Sec. Hegseth ‘Totally Unqualified’ and Accuses Trump of Crushing Free Speech—’Loyalty to Him, Not the Constitution’… Is This the Start of a Senate Showdown?
Sen. Mark Kelly Blasts Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth as ‘Totally Unqualified’ on Jimmy Kimmel Live Amid Court-Martial Threats
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a retired Navy captain and astronaut, unleashed a fiery takedown of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, labeling him “totally unqualified” for the role. The confrontation stems from Hegseth’s order for a military investigation into Kelly over a video reminding active-duty troops they can refuse illegal orders, which Kelly framed as Trump administration intimidation tactics sowing fear and prioritizing loyalty to the president over the Constitution.
Kelly, joined by five other Democratic lawmakers with military backgrounds, released the video amid controversy over Trump’s legally questionable lethal strikes on migrant boats. Trump lashed out on Truth Social, branding them “seditious” and claiming their actions were “punishable by death.” Hegseth quickly escalated, directing the Navy secretary to probe Kelly for potential violations of military law prohibiting retired members from promoting insubordination. Kelly accused Hegseth of bootlicking: “He just wants to please the president… this is what he could do this week, go after me under the uniform code of military justice.” He tied it to authoritarian playbooks: “It’s how democracies die—they suppress speech.”
On Kimmel’s show, Kelly stood firm: “I’m not backing down.” He invoked personal resilience—caring for wife Gabby Giffords after her 2011 assassination attempt—and dismissed threats: “I’ve been through a lot more challenging things.” Even Republican colleagues offered support, highlighting bipartisan unease with the probe. Hegseth’s self-styled “Secretary of War” title (unofficial) drew mockery, amplifying perceptions of his Fox News background over expertise.
This clash underscores deepening civil-military tensions under Trump 2.0. Critics see the video as standard oath reinforcement—troops swear to the Constitution, not leaders—yet the administration views it as subversion amid operations like boat strikes. Kelly’s Navy service (combat pilot, Space Shuttle commander) lends credibility, contrasting Hegseth’s Army National Guard stint and media career. Polls show 62% of veterans back constitutional duty over blind obedience.
Kimmel’s audience cheered Kelly’s defiance, with clips going viral (1.9M+ YouTube views). Trumpworld pushes back, calling it “sedition,” but Kelly warns of eroded norms: “Loyalty should be to the Constitution.” As the probe unfolds, it tests military independence.
Key Flashpoints
- Video Context: Reminded troops of oath amid boat strike scrutiny.
- Trump’s Fury: “Punishable by death” on Truth Social.
- Kelly’s Stand: “Totally unqualified” Hegseth; won’t retreat.
Kelly’s Kimmel appearance electrifies opposition resistance, framing probes as speech suppression. With midterms looming, it spotlights Trump’s military grip.
