Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, whose wife Gabby Giffords survived an assassination attempt in 2011, has voiced serious concerns about increased threats to his family's safety after former President Donald Trump accused him of 'seditious behaviour, punishable by death'.
Dangerous Political Rhetoric
Speaking on MSNBC's Morning Joe on Friday, Kelly didn't mince words about the potential consequences of Trump's social media outburst. "This kind of language is dangerous, and it's wrong," the senator stated, highlighting how political violence has become a central topic in American public discourse.
Kelly explained his security concerns with sobering clarity: "I'm not going to get into my specific security arrangements, but it would be irresponsible for me not to consider that [Trump's] words result in increased threats to myself, even to my staff, to my family." He emphasised that taking these threats seriously was a matter of basic responsibility.
Military Service Video Sparks Fury
The controversy erupted after Kelly appeared in a Tuesday video alongside five other Democratic lawmakers with military or intelligence backgrounds. In the clip, they reminded active US service members of their duty to refuse illegal orders that violate laws or the constitution.
Trump's reaction on his Truth Social platform was immediate and extreme. He not only described their actions as 'SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH' but also reposted another user's message containing the words "HANG THEM".
Personal Experience with Political Violence
Kelly's concerns are deeply personal. His wife, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, was shot in the head during a 2011 constituent meeting in Tucson that left six people dead. The senator pointed to this family tragedy while noting America's rising political violence, including two assassination attempts against Trump himself during his 2024 campaign.
"My family has suffered from political violence," Kelly told Morning Joe. "My wife... was nearly assassinated - shot in the head at a political event. We have rising political violence in this country, even the president - two assassination attempts. He should understand that."
The retired astronaut and US Navy veteran, who won his Senate seat in November 2020, stressed that Trump's words carry significant weight with the American people and can provoke dangerous reactions.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of the January 6th Capitol attack, where Trump supporters stormed the building demanding the hanging of Vice President Mike Pence. Trump later pardoned or commuted sentences for all those linked to the attack upon returning to office.
