U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) speaks with members on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 23, 2025. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
President Donald Trump's administration lost it when a group of Democrats who previously served in the military or in intelligence reminded those still in service that they don't have to follow "unlawful orders." In fact, it's part of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
Trump went so far as to call the message “sedition,” and added that it was “punishable by death.” The Justice Department tried to bring charges against the lawmakers, but a grand jury refused to indict.
While several Democrats in the video reminded viewers of the oath they took to uphold the Constitution, Trump's Department of Defense has responded by targeting one in particular: Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), NOTUS reported Tuesday. The result has been a political gift to the lawmaker and has only amplified the message further.
According to the report, Kelly said that being targeted by Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has "driven attention and millions in campaign cash." It has prompted him to “seriously” consider whether he should run for president in 2028. Further, the report said, the attack on Kelly "blessed one of the Senate’s most centrist members with an identity as a fighter in a party hungry for confrontation."
The report noted that every time Hegseth speaks or tweets, he's adding more evidence to Kelly's lawsuits and helping raise more money for Kelly's campaign. Kelly isn't even up for reelection until 2028, but is amassing a war chest to support other Democrats running for the Senate. Kelly also made it on Time's top 100 most influential people, and Hegseth did not.
“I don’t get angry about it; I don’t lose any sleep,” Kelly told NOTUS. “They’re going to do s—— like this. They’re flailing. They know the law’s on my side, and they want to shut people up. This is a corrupt administration, and it’s clear to everybody."
“If they’re going to go after the rights of 2 million retired service members, it might as well be me,” he also said.
One Democratic strategist argued that Kelly isn't known as the orator Barack Obama is, but he's getting eyeballs.
“Mark Kelly is a brilliant, charismatic dude, but his superpower is not lighting the room on fire with a fieriest stump speech with the most maximalist rhetoric,” the Democratic strategist said. “But every time the Trump administration hits him, he can say, ‘See, I’m their enemy, come with me in this fight.’ That is the most powerful thing for eyeballs, and eyeballs equals donors among the base.”