Senator Mark Kelly on Sunday criticized congressional Republicans for remaining silent after Donald Trump made violent threats against him and five other Democratic lawmakers.
The Arizona senator, a Navy veteran, said on CBS’s Face the Nation that Trump’s words carry enormous weight and have increased threats against members of Congress.
Earlier this week, Kelly and five Democrats released a video on X directed at military and intelligence personnel, reminding them they can refuse illegal orders. All six lawmakers have military or intelligence backgrounds.
Trump responded on social media, calling the lawmakers “seditious” and reposting messages suggesting they should be executed, including one referencing George Washington.
House Democratic leaders condemned Trump’s remarks, saying political violence has no place in America. Kelly said he will not be intimidated. Senator Amy Klobuchar also called Trump’s posts “dangerous.”
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance argued that instructing the military to defy the president could itself be illegal if no unlawful orders exist.