Pete Hegseth ‘totally unqualified’ says Mark Kelly amid escalating war of words over ‘sedition video’ | World News

Democratic Senator Mark Kelly has hit out at the US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, calling him “totally unqualified for the job.” Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday, Kelly, a retired US Navy Captain, said Hegseth just wants to please President Donald Trump.The 61-year-old made the comments after Hegseth, who, in a social media post, claimed that the former fighter pilot couldn’t even display his uniform correctly.

Responding to a post Kelly, who had posted a photo of his uniform and medals, while talking about his Navy career, Hegseth pointed out that his medals were out of order.

“So “Captain” Kelly, not only did your sedition video intentionally undercut good order & discipline…but you can’t even display your uniform correctly. Your medals are out of order & rows reversed. When/if you are recalled to active duty, it’ll start with a uniform inspection,” Hegseth said.

So “Captain” Kelly, not only did your sedition video intentionally undercut good order & discipline…but you can’t even display your uniform correctly. Your medals are out of order & rows reversed. When/if you are recalled to active duty, it’ll start with a uniform inspection. https://t.co/rsSyrPcmbg— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) November 25, 2025

‘can’t make this up’

Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Kelly said it was ridiculous for him to be prosecuted for reciting something in the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

“He can go after me under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which is law in the military, which is kind of wild, because we recited something in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and he’s going to prosecute me under the Uniform Code of Military Justice,” Kelly said. “It is so ridiculous, it’s almost like you can’t make this shit up,” he said.

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly is a retired US Navy Captain and NASA astronaut. (Photo: AP)

Sedition video row

Kelly, along with five other Democratic lawmakers, who also come from military or intelligence backgrounds, faced the wrath of Trump after they published a video on social media urging the US military personnel to defy illegal orders.

Trump and Republicans termed the video a seditious act and the US president even suggested that the Democratic lawmakers should be punished death.

Kelly said the president’s call for his execution was “shocking.”

“I mean, we said something very simple; members of the military need to follow the law. We wanted to say that we have their backs. His response, ‘Kill them,’” Kelly said, adding that “I’m not backing down.”

Unlike the other five Democrats, Kelly could be in deep trouble and face court martial over the video for potential violations of military law.

On Tuesday, the Democratic lawmakers said the FBI has contacted them to begin scheduling interviews, signaling a possible inquiry into the matter.

“President Trump is using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass Members of Congress,” a group of four Democratic House members said in a statement. “Yesterday, the FBI contacted the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms requesting interviews.”

Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, one of the six Democratic lawmakers in the video, told reporters Tuesday that “last night the counterterrorism division at the FBI sent a note to the members of Congress, saying they are opening what appears to be an inquiry against the six of us.”

Slotkin called it a scare tactic Trump.

“Whether you agree with the video or don’t agree with the video, the question to me is: is this the appropriate response for a president of the United States to go after and seek to weaponize the federal government against those he disagrees with?” said Slotkin.

The group of four Democratic House members said in their statement that “no amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution.”

The lawmakers said they had no further information and the FBI has not made clear on what basis they were seeking the interviews.

What Kash Patel said

The FBI Director Kash Patel, in an interview with journal Catherine Herridge, described it as an “ongoing matter” in explaining why he could not discuss details.

Asked for his reaction to the video, Patel said, “What goes through my head is the same thing that goes through my head in any case: is there a lawful predicate to open up an inquiry and investigation, or is there not? And that decision will be made the career agents and analysts here at the FBI.”