Stephen A Smith blasts Mark Kelly over Democrats' ‘illegal orders’ video: ‘How dare you do that?’

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Stephen A Smith has unleashed a furious tirade against Senator Mark Kelly, questioning the Democrat's judgment for urging military personnel to disobey "illegal orders" from the Trump administration.

Speaking on his SiriusXM radio show on Wednesday, November 26, the sports commentator and media personality did not hold back, ripping into Kelly for undermining the chain of command. While Smith made it clear he does not agree with President Donald Trump's calls for execution, he argued that Kelly, a retired Navy Captain, should have known better than to encourage insubordination.

Stephen A Smith questions Mark Kelly's judgment

Smith expressed disbelief that a former high-ranking officer would appear in a video telling troops to second-guess their orders.

"Respectfully, senator, what the hell are you doing?" Smith asked on air. "Looking into the camera and telling military men and women to ignore the Commander in Chief? How dare you? How dare you do that?"

He added a personal dimension to his critique, noting that he has relatives who served in the military and "not one of them" agreed with the lawmakers' stance. For Smith, the video crossed a line from political speech to dangerous rhetoric that could destabilize the armed forces.

Commentator rejects 'treason' label but demands accountability 

Despite his anger at Kelly, Smith drew a distinction between the Senator's actions and the "treason" charge leveled by President Trump.

"Is it treason? No. Is it punishable by death? It shouldn’t be, so the answer is no," Smith clarified, pushing back against the President's most extreme rhetoric.

However, he returned to his central point: "But you know better, Senator Kelly".

Smith's nuanced take validates the criticism of Kelly without fully endorsing the "seditious behavior" narrative, framing the Senator's actions as a reckless political stunt rather than a capital crime.

Pentagon probe looms over 'misconduct'

The commentary comes as Kelly faces tangible consequences for the video. On Monday, the Pentagon announced it had launched an inquiry into "serious allegations of misconduct" against the Senator.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered Navy Secretary John Phelan to complete a review of the allegations by December 10, potentially leading to Kelly's recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings.

Kelly has pushed back, claiming he is being targeted by "bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution," but Smith's critique suggests that even non-partisan observers find his actions indefensible.