A feud between President Donald Trump and a former NASA astronaut has escalated to a full-blown investigation over allegations of misconduct.
In response to a 90-second video encouraging members of the U.S. military to refuse to follow illegal orders, the Department of Defense (DOD) issued a statement confirming that the Pentagon is investigating whether Arizona Senator Mark Kelly violated military law. “A thorough review of these allegations has been initiated to determine further actions, which may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures,” DOD wrote on X.
Trump vs. Kelly
Kelly, who served as a NASA astronaut for 15 years before retiring in 2011, appears in the video, along with five other Democratic senators, reminding military personnel that they had the right to disobey unlawful orders.
“This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens,” they said. The video may have been referring to the deployment of the National Guard in several U.S. cities.
“SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” Trump wrote on Truth Social last week. “THE TRAITORS THAT TOLD THE MILITARY TO DISOBEY MY ORDERS SHOULD BE IN JAIL RIGHT NOW, NOT ROAMING THE FAKE NEWS NETWORKS TRYING TO EXPLAIN THAT WHAT THEY SAID WAS OK.”
Trump’s all-caps online ramblings seem to have manifested into consequences IRL, with the DOD revealing that Kelly could face legal action. Kelly, however, did not back down. “If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won’t work,” the retired Navy captain, combat pilot, and astronaut wrote on X. “I’ve given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution.”
When I was 22 years old, I commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy and swore an oath to the Constitution. I upheld that oath through flight school, multiple deployments on the USS Midway, 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm, test pilot school, four space… pic.twitter.com/jMAlYEozQ6
— Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) November 24, 2025
Kelly spent more than 50 days in space, logging four missions and commanding the final Space Shuttle flight. Mark and his twin brother Scott, who is also a retired astronaut, participated in NASA’s Twins Study. The year-long study compared blood samples of the identical twins while Scott was in space and Mark was on Earth.
“At NASA, I launched on a rocket, commanded the space shuttle, and was part of the recovery mission that brought home the bodies of my astronaut classmates who died on Columbia,” Kelly wrote on X. “I did all of this in service to this country that I love and has given me so much.”
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