During a press conference on Capitol Hill, Mark Kelly issued a strongly worded response to remarks attributed to Donald Trump, amid controversy surrounding a video in which military personnel were reminded they can refuse unlawful orders. Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy captain and former astronaut, contrasted his background in combat and spaceflight with Trump’s past business activities, referencing his military service during deployments and his later missions with Space Shuttle Columbia recovery-related operations. He also mentioned Trump’s association with Jeffrey Epstein, framing his comments as part of a broader criticism of Trump’s conduct and credibility.
Kelly emphasized that his experiences serving in the military and NASA shaped his perspective, stating he would not be silenced by political pressure. The situation also reportedly involved Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with reports indicating a grand jury declined to bring charges against Kelly and a federal judge blocked efforts to demote him.