Democratic Senator Mark Kelly has publicly challenged his Republican colleagues in Congress to break their silence and condemn violent threats made by former President Donald Trump.
‘Crickets’ from Republicans on Trump’s Incendiary Posts
Appearing on CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday, the Arizona lawmaker expressed alarm at the lack of response from across the political aisle. "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," Kelly stated.
He pointedly recalled how, following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September, both Trump and Republican legislators had called for Democrats to moderate their own language. "What happened to that?" Kelly asked, highlighting the perceived double standard.
The controversy stems from a video released earlier in the week by Kelly and five other Democratic members of Congress, all of whom have military or intelligence backgrounds. In the clip, posted on X, they reminded active-duty service members that "Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders." Senator Kelly himself served for 25 years in the US Navy.
Trump’s Reaction and the Fallout
On Thursday, Donald Trump responded on his social media platform with a series of aggressive posts. He declared that the lawmakers should be arrested and tried for "seditious behaviour" and in another post stated this behaviour was "punishable by DEATH!" He also reposted a message that said, "HANG THEM, GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!"
Senator Kelly emphasised the tangible danger of such rhetoric from a former president. "His words carry tremendous weight, more so than anybody else in the country, and he should be aware of that, and because of what he says, there is now increased threats against us," he told CBS.
In the face of these threats, Kelly remained resolute. "The president is trying to intimidate us," he said. "I’m not going to be intimidated."
Democratic Condemnation and Republican Defence
Top House Democrats, including Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, issued a joint statement condemning Trump's remarks, asserting that "political violence has no place in America."
On NBC's Meet the Press, Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar also denounced the posts as "dangerous," stating, "What is dangerous is the president of the United States threatening these members of Congress with death. Literally, saying that they should be executed."
Meanwhile, Vice-President JD Vance entered the fray on Sunday, defending Trump on X. He argued, "If the president hasn’t issued illegal orders, then members of Congress telling the military to defy the president is by definition illegal."
The incident has sharply intensified the political climate in Washington, placing a spotlight on the response, or lack thereof, from Republican leadership.
