Trump's stare down with Mark Kelly ignites MAGA meltdown

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 goaded congressional Democrats during his State of the Union address by asking everyone to stand if they believed the US government should prioritize its own citizens over undocumented immigrants. Refusing to walk into the trap, many Democrats refused to stand, including a man who Trump tried to demote for urging the military to not follow illegal orders — Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona.

In response, Trump and Kelly engaged in a stare down. Not surprisingly, the social media platform X blew up with commentary about the Trump-Kelly stare down. Referring to the 2028 presidential primaries, user Jason Wilcoxson posted shortly after the stare down that “I’d rather vote for Mark Kelly but as far as I’ve heard he hasn’t expressed an interest in running.” X user Deanna Lee was more succinct in her admiration for Kelly, simply writing “Mark Kelly not standing. Good. #SOTU2026”

After Trump scolded Kelly and the other non-standing Democrats, X user Deb Graham Warren exclaimed, “…AND THEN said to those who did not stand up, like Mark Kelly, ‘You should be ashamed of yourself.’ Wait….WHO should be ashamed?”

Progress Arizona conveyed similar disdain for the whole situation involving Trump’s speech, tweeting “Senator Mark Kelly is so over this and we agree #SOTU.”

Meanwhile Colleen Holt expressed alarm that CNN focused on Kelly for so long during the incident, tweeting “shame on CNN for only focusing on Senator Mark Kelly and putting a further target on him. 😡”

Perhaps lending credibility to Holt’s concern, X also blew up with users who accused Kelly of dishonoring his country by not playing along with Trump’s ploy.

“Former Captain Mark Kelly sitting and pouting over his decision to put illegal aliens before US citizens while the screeching socialist squad disrespects our country,” wrote a user known as Vera News. “They don’t deserve to be there!” Another user who goes by “Toxically Masculine” simply posted, “Mark Kelly. Protect Americans and not illegals. Stand your bald skinny a-- up!!!”

“Mark Kelly wouldn’t stand up when asked to stand if you support protecting Americans from criminal illegal aliens and border security!” posted user Golf and Tri. “You should not be allowed to represent the USA! Traitor!!!!!!” Another X poster who goes by Allen805 argued that because “the traitor Sen. Mark Kelly won't even stand during the SOTU Address to protect American citizens” he “should serve the rest of his life Ft. Leavenworth penitentiary for his traitorous crimes against the U.S. Constitution…”

American Grace, though not accusing Kelly of a crime, nevertheless wrote they had fallen for Trump because “Trump did such a great job making you democrats squirm in your seats- jerks like Mark Kelly, Talia Rajiv and Ilyar Omar - you’re so unprofessional and hateful.”

She added, “I pray you’re all given the boot in the next election.”

Despite Trump’s and his supporters’ repeated claims that Kelly should go to prison for criticizing the president, a grand jury refused to indict Kelly because his statements to the military count as protected speech.

“It’s an amazing spectacle,” former Treasury Secretary Robert Reich wrote for AlterNet earlier this month. “Ordinary people serving on grand juries are refusing to indict people who have become entangled in Trump’s viciousness. A citizens’ revolt.”

Reich added, “Because of the secretive nature of grand juries, it’s impossible to know for sure why this has been happening. But the rejections suggest that grand jurors may have had enough of prosecutors seeking harsh charges in a highly politicized environment.”

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