Senator Mark Kelly Urges Republicans to Condemn Trump's Threats Against Democratic Lawmakers

Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona has called on congressional Republicans to publicly denounce President Donald Trump's recent threats against him and five other Democratic lawmakers. The controversy arose after the lawmakers released a video urging military and intelligence personnel to refuse illegal orders.

In the video, Kelly and his colleagues, all with backgrounds in military or intelligence services, emphasized that service members are not obligated to follow unlawful commands. President Trump responded on social media, labeling their actions as "seditious behavior" and suggesting such behavior is "punishable by death."

Speaking on CBS's "Face the Nation," Kelly expressed concern over the lack of response from Republican legislators:

"We've heard very little, basically crickets, from Republicans in the United States Congress about what the president has said about hanging members of Congress."

He highlighted the weight of the president's words and the potential for increased threats against lawmakers. Kelly also referenced previous calls from Trump and Republican legislators for Democrats to moderate their language following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September, questioning the apparent inconsistency.

House Democratic leaders, including Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, and Pete Aguilar, issued a joint statement condemning Trump's remarks, emphasizing that "political violence has no place in America."

Kelly reiterated his stance, stating that the president is "trying to intimidate us" but affirmed, "I'm not going to be intimidated."

Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota also condemned Trump's posts, describing them as "dangerous" and highlighting the severity of the president's threats against members of Congress.