Stephen A. Smith Criticizes Sen. Mark Kelly for Democrats’ ‘Illegal Orders’ Video
In a recent broadcast of his SiriusXM show “Straight Shooter,” sports commentator Stephen A. Smith criticized Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) for a viral video featuring Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers. The video encouraged military personnel to defy what they termed illegal orders from the Trump administration. Smith, who has a personal connection to the military, expressed his disapproval, claiming Kelly “crossed the line.”
Smith Critiques Kelly’s Message to Military
During the episode, which aired on a Wednesday, Smith argued that Kelly, a retired Navy captain, should have approached his concerns through proper channels rather than delivering a public directive. He highlighted the gravity of the situation by stating that as an elected official, Kelly should know better. “You have a problem — you go through the necessary process,” he said, referencing leaders like Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer.
Smith’s remarks were pointed. “You don’t go in front of the cameras and give military personnel a directive to ignore their commander-in-chief,” he stated. In addition to Kelly, lawmakers such as Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) and Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.) also participated in the video, which has since garnered over 18 million views on social media platform X.
Concerns Raised Over Legality
While discussing the video, Smith questioned the claims made by Kelly and his colleagues regarding illegal orders from Trump. He asked, “Where’s the evidence?” and criticized the lawmakers for not specifying what these illegal orders entailed. Smith suggested that if Kelly believed there were legal violations, he could have pursued impeachment instead.
- Smith noted, “You impeached Trump twice; where did that get you?”
- He emphasized that many military veterans he knows disapprove of the message conveyed in the video.
Reactions to Smith and Kelly
Following the video’s release, the Department of Defense announced an investigation into Senator Kelly concerning serious allegations of misconduct. Trump denounced the video as “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR” and echoed sentiments calling for repercussions against the lawmakers involved. In contrast, GOP Senators John Curtis (Utah) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) defended Kelly on social media.
Ultimately, Stephen A. Smith’s criticisms highlight a broader conversation about the appropriate conduct of elected officials and their relationship with the military. As investigations proceed, the implications of the video and the statements made by various lawmakers will remain in the spotlight.
