Sen. Mark Kelly responds to Trump: ‘There is now increased threats against us’

PHOENIX — Arizona U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly responded to President Trump’s recent claims of sedition, and said Trump should understand that his words “could have serious, serious consequences.”

“What the President said is very serious. I didn’t think he would step over that line. Calling for the execution of members of congress,” Kelly said to Margaret Brennan Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

“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.”

Brennan said there was a request for Kelly to receive a boost in security, but Kelly said he’s unsure if Republican members of congress are on board.

“I think it’s really important for people to understand … that the message he sent a couple days ago, he declared that loyalty to the Constitution is now punishable by death,” Kelly said. “Those are serious words coming from the President of the United States. He’s trying to intimidate us, but … I’m not going to be intimidated.”

Kelly’s comments come after Trump called Kelly and five other congressional Democrats “traitors” who deserve the death penalty for telling military members they don’t have to follow illegal orders. 

In a video posted on Tuesday, Kelly said he and the other Democrats were specifically referring to recent strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea, which he believes are “really close” to crossing over into illegal activity.

Trump then responded on Thursday with a post on Truth Social in a response to a Washington Examiner article about the video.

“It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL,” the president posted. “Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET.”

Trump later added that he believes the video was “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”

He also shared a post by a user who wrote, “HANG THEM.”

Mark Kelly brings up his close personal ties to political violence

Kelly said Trump, like himself, should understand how serious political violence is after Trump survived an assassination attempt in July 2024 where a bullet grazed Trump’s ear during a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Kelly’s wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords was shot in the head by a gunman in 2011 outside of a grocery store in Tucson in an incident that killed six and injured 12 others.

“As the husband of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, I understand what political violence is,” Kelly said. “The president should as well. Just like Gabby, somebody tried to assassinate him, and he should understand that his words could have serious, serious consequences.”

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