Arizona’s senior senator is reacting defiantly against a censure declaration from the secretary of Defense.
Pete Hegseth announced Monday that he is formally taking steps to demote Sen. Mark Kelly’s rank as a retired Navy captain and reduce his pension.
It comes after Kelly and other Democratic lawmakers who are veterans, urged U.S. military members to uphold the Constitution and defy “illegal orders” by the Trump administration back in November.
In a social media post, Kelly called the move “outrageous” and “un-American” and criticized President Donald Trump’s lack of military service.
"Four generations of service to this country earns me the right to speak. Five deferments earns nothing," Kelly said.
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
Kelly said the censure was to silence him and other lawmakers speaking out against the administration and that he would fight it with everything he has.
