Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to troll Sen. Mark Kelly after the Pentagon announced on Monday it would be investigating the Arizona Democrat caused a real war of words on social media.
The Pentagon claimed Kelly’s participation and statements in a video calling for U.S. troops to refuse unlawful orders interfered with the “loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces.”
The announcement said that Kelly might be recalled to active duty so he can be court-martialed for his actions.
Kelly responded to the news by posting a photo of his medals, noting, “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.”
On Tuesday, Hegseth responded to Kelly’s post by trolling him, claiming that the former U.S. Navy fighter pilot and astronaut’s medals were “out of order & rows reversed.”
Hegseth added: “When/if you are recalled to active duty, it’ll start with a uniform inspection.”
Kelly’s wife, Gabrielle Giffords, a former politician, jumped to his defense, as did many former members of the military.
Jeff Flake, a former Republican senator from Arizona, called Kelly “a good man who has served his country honorably in the past and continues to serve honorably in the U.S. Senate.”
“I’m proud to call him my Senator,” he concluded.
Former GOP Rep. Justin Amash pointed out the chances of Kelly being prosecuted for his participation in the video are practically zero.
“We don’t live in North Korea. Anyone here can freely state that service members must refuse unlawful orders,” he said.
And, not surprisingly, a few former members of the military had harsh words for Hegseth.
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), a former Marine, called Hegseth a “total blue falcon,” which UrbanDictionary says is military slang for someone “who commonly fucks over their buddys” (sic).
Others chimed in, including Adam Kinzinger, a former Air Force officer and former GOP representative for Illinois, who called Hegseth “a blowhard who tries really hard to look tough.”