Sen. Mark Kelly’s Hesitation on Military Strike in Venezuela

Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) seemed uncertain on Tuesday about labeling the recent U.S. military action in Venezuela as “illegal.” This comes after he previously urged military personnel in a viral video to reject what he referred to as “unlawful orders.”

Last weekend, President Donald Trump announced a military operation that reportedly included the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his spouse in Caracas.

In the wake of this strike, several progressive Democrats criticized Trump’s actions as illegal and potentially impeachable.

However, during an appearance on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” Kelly didn’t fully endorse those views. He explained, “What we discussed in the video is that military personnel receive specific orders and must decide their legality.”

He continued, “This brings up a constitutional question: If the president wants to conduct a law enforcement action against a foreign leader, can he deploy a large military force for that purpose? Those are two distinct questions.”

“Maduro is undoubtedly a bad actor; I’m relieved he’s gone. Yet, it seems the president didn’t have a plan beyond removing him—now Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s second-in-command, is taking charge. It’s like in the Navy, where you say a new executive is appointed as soon as they become commander. That’s what’s happening in Venezuela now, and I don’t think there was a clear plan for the aftermath,” he added.

Kelly was among six Democrats who previously participated in a viral video urging military personnel to “refuse illegal orders.” However, to date, lawmakers, including Kelly, have not cited any specific orders they consider unlawful.

On Monday, Army Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Kelly would receive a formal letter of censure. He also instructed Secretary of the Navy John Phelan to review Kelly’s retirement rank and pay, with recommendations expected within 45 days.

In a statement, Hegseth said, “About six weeks ago, Sen. Mark Kelly and five other Congress members released a reckless and inflammatory video clearly aimed at undermining military discipline. As a retired Navy colonel who continues to receive military benefits, Captain Kelly has a duty to uphold military justice, and both the Department of the Army and the American public expect nothing less.”