Stephen A. Smith Spars With The View Over Sen. Mark Kelly’s Call To Refuse Illegal Orders

08:42 AM, 12/05/2025

Summary: Stephen A. Smith and co-hosts on ABC’s The View engaged in a heated exchange after Smith criticized Sen. Mark Kelly for appearing in a video urging military and intelligence personnel to refuse "illegal" orders. Host Sunny Hostin called Smith "loud and wrong," while Smith said Kelly’s status as a former Navy pilot made his advice risky for troops. The co-hosts emphasized that military code allows refusal of unlawful commands; Smith maintained concern about the public implications of Kelly’s message. The segment highlighted broader debates over civil-military relations and public guidance aimed at service members.

Heated Exchange On The View Over Civil-Military Guidance

ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith clashed with co-hosts on ABC’s The View after he criticized Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) for appearing in a video that urged members of the military and intelligence communities to refuse "illegal" orders from the commander in chief.

What Happened On Air

The dispute began when Sunny Hostin played a clip of Smith’s earlier commentary and labeled his stance "loud and wrong," offering him a chance to retract his remarks. Smith refused, saying, "I’m not changing a thing. I didn’t stutter when I said it." The exchange quickly escalated into a back-and-forth about intent, legality and the responsibilities of public figures when addressing service members.

"Respectfully, senator, what the hell are you doing? Looking into the camera and telling military men and women to ignore the commander-in-chief? How dare you?" — Stephen A. Smith (on his XM radio show)

Context: The Lawmakers' Video

Last month, six Democratic lawmakers, including Sens. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), appeared in a video urging military and intelligence personnel to consult their consciences and decline to follow "illegal" orders. The lawmakers also criticized the Trump administration for creating divisions between uniformed officials and the public.

Main Points Of Contention

Hostin and fellow co-host Joy Behar argued that Kelly’s remarks referred specifically to unlawful commands — a distinction that is recognized under military code. Smith countered that Kelly’s public position, given his background as a former Navy combat pilot, could risk exposing service members to confusion or legal vulnerability. Smith said he was speaking from conversations with family members who have military experience and reiterated that he was discussing "illegal" orders.

During the segment Smith also dismissed a comparison to conservative commentator Pete Hegseth, saying, "I don’t give a damn what Pete Hegseth has to say," and challenged Hegseth’s qualifications for public debate on military matters.

Broader Stakes

The disagreement went beyond semantics, with both sides saying elected officials had privately weighed in: Hostin said two governors had told her Smith was wrong, while Smith said two senators agreed with him. The on-air spat highlighted the sensitive balance between urging lawful conscience and avoiding public messaging that could be misinterpreted by service members about obedience to civilian leadership.

Why It Matters: The exchange underscores tensions over how public figures should advise military and intelligence personnel on following orders, and illustrates how easily such conversations can become politically charged on daytime television.