Senator Kelly Speaks Out Against Trump's Violent Rhetoric
Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly has publicly criticised congressional Republicans for their silence regarding former President Donald Trump's violent threats against him and five other Democratic lawmakers. The controversy emerged after Kelly and his colleagues released a video affirming that military personnel are legally entitled to refuse illegal orders.
Kelly, a former Navy captain and NASA astronaut, expressed his concern during an interview on CBS's Face the Nation. "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 stated.
The Trigger: A Video on Military Protocol
The political firestorm began when Kelly and five other Democratic members of Congress, all with military or intelligence backgrounds, published a video clearly stating: "Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders." This statement, grounded in established military law, prompted an aggressive response from Donald Trump.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump accused the lawmakers of "seditious behavior, punishable by DEATH!" He further reposted a message that explicitly called for their execution, reading "HANG THEM, GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!"
Kelly highlighted the stark contrast in Republican behaviour, recalling how Trump and GOP legislators had previously called for Democrats to moderate their language following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September. "What happened to that?" Kelly questioned, pointing to the inconsistency.
Increased Threats and the Weight of Words
Emphasising the real-world consequences of such rhetoric, Kelly noted that Trump's words carry immense influence. "His words carry tremendous weight, more so than anybody else in the country, and he should be aware of that," Kelly said. He confirmed that as a direct result of Trump's accusations, there has been a noticeable increase in threats against the targeted lawmakers.
Despite the intimidation, Senator Kelly remained resolute, affirming that he is "not going to be intimidated" by the former president's comments.
Other Key Developments
In related news, the US and Ukraine announced the creation of an "updated and refined peace framework" following criticism of pro-Russian points in an original US-backed document that was leaked last week. The original 28-point plan had demanded Ukraine cede territory to Russia, limit its army size, and forgo pursuing the Kremlin for alleged war crimes.
Separately, a new transparency feature on X, the platform owned by Elon Musk, revealed that many influential "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) personalities are based outside the United States, including in Russia, Nigeria, and India.
In a remarkable archaeological discovery, researchers at the University of Tartu in Estonia identified a 10,500-year-old piece of birch tar 'gum' chewed by a stone age teenager, complete with tooth marks and traces of saliva.
