Mark Kelly condemns Pete Hegseth's 'un-American' attempt to strip his military rank
Over twenty-five years in the U.S. Navy, thirty-nine combat missions, and four missions to space, I risked my life for this country and to defend our Constitution – including the First Amendment rights of every American to speak out. I never expected that the President of the…
— Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) January 5, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Monday, January 5, that he had issued a formal censure against Senator Mark Kelly that could result in a decreased pension and strip him of his retired military rank.
The censure was a result of Kelly and five other members of Congress releasing a reportedly “seditious” video intended to undermine military discipline.
In November 2025, Mark Kelly, along with other Democratic lawmakers, released a video urging service members not to follow any “illegal orders” from the administration.
In light of the announcement, Mark Kelly took to X to respond to the possible repercussions of Hegseth’s censure, noting that he would not be intimidated by him. He called Hegseth’s message “un-American” and “outrageous.”
Mark Kelly calls Pete Hegseth most 'unqualified Defense Secretary'
In a fiery post in response to Hegseth attempting to strip Kelly of his retired military rank after his “seditious video,” Kelly said that Hegseth was trying to intimidate every retired service member who wanted to criticize him or President Donald Trump.
He added that it was “wrong” and outrageous as he called Pete Hegseth the most "unqualified Secretary of Defense" in America’s history.
Mark Kelly added that Hegseth was wrong to think that he could intimidate him by threatening to demote or prosecute him, adding that he would fight with "everything" he has got.
“Not for myself, but to send a message back that Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump don’t get to decide what Americans in this country get to say about their government,” he wrote.
Mark Kelly slams Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth's attack on him
In a recent X post, Mark Kelly wrote that he had spent over 25 years in the Navy with 39 combat missions and four missions to space. He stated that he had repeatedly risked his life to fight for the country and defend the American Constitution, which included the First Amendment.
“I never expected that the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense would attack me for doing exactly that,” he wrote.
The senator added that his rank and retirement were things he earned through his years of service and sacrifice, and detailed some of the things he had to go through for them. Kelly wrote that he had been shot at, missed holidays, and birthdays.
“I commanded a space shuttle mission while my wife Gabby recovered from a gunshot wound to the head, all while proudly wearing the American flag on my shoulder,” he wrote.
