A Democratic senator has launched a blistering attack on his Republican colleagues for their silence following Donald Trump's violent threats against six members of Congress.
Military Veterans Targeted by Trump
Senator Mark Kelly, a 25-year navy veteran from Arizona, expressed outrage at the lack of condemnation from GOP lawmakers after the former president called for Democratic politicians to be executed. Kelly and five other Democratic congress members with military or intelligence backgrounds had released a video earlier last week reminding active-duty service personnel that they could refuse illegal commands.
"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 during an appearance on CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday.
Trump's Explosive Social Media Reaction
The controversy erupted after Kelly and his colleagues posted their message on X, formerly Twitter, directed at military and intelligence workers. The video clearly stated: "Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders." All six participants had extensive backgrounds in national security services.
Trump responded with fury on Thursday, using his social media platform to demand the lawmakers be arrested and tried for "seditious behaviour." In another post that shocked political observers, he declared "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" and shared a message stating "HANG THEM, GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!"
Democratic Leaders Unite in Condemnation
The former president's inflammatory remarks prompted immediate backlash from senior Democratic figures. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, alongside Democratic whip Katherine Clark and Democratic caucus chair Pete Aguilar, issued a joint statement condemning Trump's language.
They emphasised that "political violence has no place in America" and called for responsible leadership.
Kelly noted the striking contrast with Republicans' previous calls for moderation after the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September. "What happened to that?" he questioned, pointing out the inconsistency in their positions.
Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar also voiced her concerns on NBC's Meet the Press, describing Trump's posts as "dangerous" and highlighting that the president was "literally, saying that they should be executed."
Meanwhile, Vice-President JD Vance entered the fray with a social media post of his own, arguing that "if the president hasn't issued illegal orders, then members of Congress telling the military to defy the president is by definition illegal."
Kelly remained defiant in the face of the threats, asserting that Trump was "trying to intimidate us" while making clear: "I'm not going to be intimidated." The senator emphasised the real-world consequences of such rhetoric, noting that "his words carry tremendous weight, more so than anybody else in the country" and had already led to increased threats against the targeted lawmakers.
