Pete Hegseth drops hammer on Democrat senator in 'sedition' storm as court martial looms after Trump's execution threat
By Phillip Nieto
Daily Mail
Nov 24, 2025
Nazi soldiers on trial for war crimes in 1946 claimed they were just following orders, but they were either imprisoned or hanged Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Monday launched an investigation into a Democratic senator who encouraged troops to disobey Donald Trump's orders.
Senator Mark Kelly is facing a Pentagon
probe after appearing in a video last week alongside other Democratic
lawmakers where he urged military and intelligence personnel not to
follow 'illegal' orders.
'The video
made by the “Seditious Six” was despicable, reckless, and false.
Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders
undermines every aspect of “good order and discipline.” Their foolish
screed sows doubt and confusion — which only puts our warriors in
danger,' Hegseth wrote on X.
The video featured six Democratic
lawmakers who have backgrounds in military or intelligence service.
Kelly served in the Navy for over two decades. The lawmakers said, 'Our
laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.'
The
president issued a statement on Truth Social calling their actions
'seditious' and 'treason,' while demanding they be executed via
hanging.
'SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!' before reposting another them that stated, 'HANG THEM, GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!'
Even though Kelly is a retired military officer, he is still available for recall into
service and therefore subject to military law. The others were
discharged after their resignations, meaning they no longer fall under
the military's jurisdiction.
Kelly responded to the Pentagon's latest investigation by claiming he would not be intimidated by bullies.
Mark
Kelly made a video with other Democratic lawmakers where he called on
soldiers to ignore illegal orders from President Trump
Trump responded to the video by calling for the execution of the Democratic lawmakers, including Kelly 'Secretary Hegseth’s tweet is the first I
heard of this. I also saw the President’s posts saying I should be
arrested, hanged, and put to death,' Kelly told the Daily Mail.
'If
this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing
our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won’t work.
I’ve given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care
more about their own power than protecting the Constitution,' Kelly
added
Hegseth noted that the other five Democrats will not be investigated because they do not fall under the Pentagon's jurisdiction.
The others include Senator Elissa Slotkin
of Michigan, an ex-CIA analyst who served multiple tours in Iraq;
Representative Jason Crow of Colorado, a former Army Ranger;
Representative Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, a former Navy
reservist; and Representative Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, a former
Air Force officer.
'Mark
Kelly (retired Navy Commander) is still subject to Uniform Code of
Military Justice (UCMJ) — and he knows that,' Hegseth added.
'The
Department is reviewing his statements and actions, which were
addressed directly to all troops while explicitly using his rank and
service affiliation — lending the appearance of authority to his words.'
Kelly,
who represents Arizona, did not specify what 'illegal' orders
service members should ignore from the president; however, Democrats have
recently raised concerns about the legality of US military strikes
against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean.
Democratic
critics of Trump have slammed the White House over the president's
deployment of National Guard troops to cities across the US without the
approval of governors.
In
response to Trump's threat to execute Democratic lawmakers, the top
Democratic in the House, Hakeem Jeffries, issued with a statement along
with other party leaders condemning the president for 'political
violence' adding that it 'has no place in America.'
Pete Hegseth launched the investigation into Kelly following Trump's calls for violence against Democrats
Kelly
told his social media followers on Sunday that he would not be
'intimated' by Trump while also bashing Republican lawmakers for
remaining silent over the president's threats.
'Two
months ago Trump and Republicans were saying we need to dial back the
rhetoric. Now the President himself suggests members of Congress should
be hanged, and it’s crickets.'
In the
wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination, Republican lawmakers and
influencers blamed Democrats for fueling the rise of 'toxic' political
rhetoric, arguing that the escalating hostility has helped create an
environment ripe for violence against conservatives.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Monday launched an investigation into a Democratic senator who encouraged troops to disobey Donald Trump's orders.
Senator Mark Kelly is facing a Pentagon probe after appearing in a video last week alongside other Democratic lawmakers where he urged military and intelligence personnel not to follow 'illegal' orders.
'The video made by the “Seditious Six” was despicable, reckless, and false. Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of “good order and discipline.” Their foolish screed sows doubt and confusion — which only puts our warriors in danger,' Hegseth wrote on X.
The video featured six Democratic lawmakers who have backgrounds in military or intelligence service. Kelly served in the Navy for over two decades. The lawmakers said, 'Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.'
The president issued a statement on Truth Social calling their actions 'seditious' and 'treason,' while demanding they be executed via hanging.
'SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!' before reposting another them that stated, 'HANG THEM, GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!'
Even though Kelly is a retired military officer, he is still available for recall into service and therefore subject to military law. The others were discharged after their resignations, meaning they no longer fall under the military's jurisdiction.
Kelly responded to the Pentagon's latest investigation by claiming he would not be intimidated by bullies.
Mark Kelly made a video with other Democratic lawmakers where he called on soldiers to ignore illegal orders from President Trump
'Secretary Hegseth’s tweet is the first I heard of this. I also saw the President’s posts saying I should be arrested, hanged, and put to death,' Kelly told the Daily Mail.
'If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won’t work. I’ve given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution,' Kelly added
Hegseth noted that the other five Democrats will not be investigated because they do not fall under the Pentagon's jurisdiction.
The others include Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, an ex-CIA analyst who served multiple tours in Iraq; Representative Jason Crow of Colorado, a former Army Ranger; Representative Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, a former Navy reservist; and Representative Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, a former Air Force officer.
'Mark Kelly (retired Navy Commander) is still subject to Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) — and he knows that,' Hegseth added.
'The Department is reviewing his statements and actions, which were addressed directly to all troops while explicitly using his rank and service affiliation — lending the appearance of authority to his words.'
Kelly, who represents Arizona, did not specify what 'illegal' orders service members should ignore from the president; however, Democrats have recently raised concerns about the legality of US military strikes against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean.
Democratic critics of Trump have slammed the White House over the president's deployment of National Guard troops to cities across the US without the approval of governors.
In response to Trump's threat to execute Democratic lawmakers, the top Democratic in the House, Hakeem Jeffries, issued with a statement along with other party leaders condemning the president for 'political violence' adding that it 'has no place in America.'
Pete Hegseth launched the investigation into Kelly following Trump's calls for violence against Democrats
Kelly told his social media followers on Sunday that he would not be 'intimated' by Trump while also bashing Republican lawmakers for remaining silent over the president's threats.
'Two months ago Trump and Republicans were saying we need to dial back the rhetoric. Now the President himself suggests members of Congress should be hanged, and it’s crickets.'
In the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination, Republican lawmakers and influencers blamed Democrats for fueling the rise of 'toxic' political rhetoric, arguing that the escalating hostility has helped create an environment ripe for violence against conservatives.
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