Senator Mark Kelly Criticizes GOP Silence on Trump's 'Death' Threats Against Democratic Lawmakers

Senator Kelly Calls Out Republican Inaction

Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) has voiced strong criticism against congressional Republicans for their perceived silence following former President Donald Trump's recent social media posts that targeted six Democratic lawmakers with accusations of 'seditious behavior, punishable by DEATH!' Kelly, a veteran himself, highlighted the lack of condemnation from the GOP, stating, '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.'

Trump's Controversial Remarks and Their Origin

The controversy stems from a video released by six Democratic members of Congress—Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, and Representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, and Maggie Goodlander. All six individuals have backgrounds in military or intelligence service. In the video, they addressed active-duty military and intelligence personnel, emphasizing their oath to the Constitution and stating, 'Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.'

Former President Trump reacted to this video with a series of posts on his social media platform, including one that declared, 'SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!' He also reposted a message that read, 'HANG THEM, GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!' These statements quickly drew widespread condemnation from Democrats, who characterized them as dangerous and inciting political violence.

GOP Response and Concerns Over Political Violence

Senator Kelly's call for Republicans to publicly reject Trump's threats has been met with a largely muted response from the GOP. While House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged that Trump's chosen words were 'not the ones that I would use' and clarified that he did not believe the actions constituted crimes punishable by death, a strong, unified condemnation from Republican leadership has been notably absent.

Other Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, urged for Trump's remarks to be 'condemned forcefully, loudly and without excuses,' warning that such rhetoric makes political violence more likely. Senator Kelly himself expressed personal concern about the impact of Trump's words, noting that his wife, Gabrielle Giffords, was a victim of political violence, and that such language could lead to 'increased threats' to his safety and that of his family and staff. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) also criticized Trump's threats, stating, 'I don't want to be in a world where death threats from the president… become normalized and become background noise.'

Ongoing Debate on Rhetoric and Accountability

The incident has intensified the ongoing debate in the United States regarding political rhetoric, its potential to incite violence, and the accountability of public figures for their statements. Democrats continue to press for stronger condemnations from across the political spectrum, emphasizing the need to safeguard democratic institutions and the safety of elected officials.