Kelly: Republicans Largely Silent After Trump's 'Sedition' Posts as Threats Increase

Sen. Mark Kelly criticized the Republican response to President Trump’s posts that denounced six Democratic lawmakers who told service members they may refuse illegal orders. The lawmakers — all with military or intelligence experience — posted a video on X saying the law allows refusal of unlawful commands. Trump called them “traitors” and accused them of “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH,” and Kelly says his office has received increased threats since the posts. A handful of Republicans, including Sens. Rand Paul and Thom Tillis, have publicly criticized the president’s rhetoric.

09:46 AM, 11/24/2025Politics

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) on Sunday urged Republican colleagues in Congress to publicly repudiate President Donald Trump’s recent posts that targeted six Democratic lawmakers who told service members they may refuse unlawful orders. Kelly described GOP response as "basically crickets" during an appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation with host Margaret Brennan.

Earlier this week, Kelly and five fellow Democrats — Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Reps. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Jason Crow (D-Colo.) — posted a video on X addressed to active-duty military and intelligence personnel: “Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.” All six have military or intelligence backgrounds; Kelly served 25 years in the Navy and retired as a captain.

Days after the video, the president labeled the lawmakers “traitors” on Truth Social and wrote that their actions were “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” He later repeated the accusations and said the lawmakers “SHOULD BE IN JAIL RIGHT NOW.”

Kelly said his office has received increased threats following the president’s posts. He also noted an inconsistency in Republican calls for civility after a fatal shooting in September, asking rhetorically, “what happened to that?” Kelly’s wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords, left Congress after surviving a 2011 assassination attempt that left her with a serious head injury; Kelly cited that history when describing the impact of violent rhetoric.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later tried to clarify that the president seeks consequences for the lawmakers but does not advocate executing members of Congress.

Some Republicans have publicly criticized Trump’s language. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) called the president’s comments “reckless, inappropriate, [and] irresponsible” on Face the Nation and said the country “can do better.” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) urged leaders to consider how their words are perceived by children and others observing political debate.

Why it matters

Legal and military experts generally agree that service members must follow lawful orders and may refuse unlawful ones. Elected officials’ public statements about violence or punishment can heighten threats and intimidation against lawmakers and staff, making bipartisan condemnation an important check on inflammatory rhetoric.