A classified briefing for the entire U.S. Senate turned confrontational on Tuesday as Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth engaged in a sharp exchange. The clash centred on controversial U.S. military actions in the Pacific Ocean and an unusual Pentagon investigation targeting Kelly himself.
Confrontation in a Secure Room
According to a source familiar with the event, the argument unfolded during a closed-door, classified meeting. Senator Kelly, seated just feet from Hegseth, pressed the Defense Secretary for details about recent U.S. military strikes against alleged drug boats operating near Venezuela. These operations, which occurred on September 2, have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers in both parties after it was revealed the strikes killed two men who had survived an initial attack.
Instead of directly addressing the question, Hegseth pivoted to reference a video Senator Kelly and other Democratic lawmakers recorded last month. The video reminds U.S. service members of their duty to disobey illegal orders. The Pentagon has since elevated its review of Kelly's participation in that video to an "official Command Investigation," overseen in part by the Pentagon general counsel's office.
Kelly interrupted Hegseth, urging him to stay on topic. The senator then pointed out that Hegseth himself had made similar public comments in 2016, warning about the potential for then-candidate Donald Trump to issue unlawful orders. "I politely reminded him that, in 2016, he was very eloquent in his position about the same exact thing, right?" Kelly told HuffPost in an interview afterward.
A Probe and Bipartisan Backlash
The Pentagon's investigation into a sitting U.S. senator—a decorated Navy combat veteran and astronaut—has sparked significant controversy. The department has even threatened potential court-martial proceedings against Kelly. "This is all a bunch of bullshit," Kelly, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, stated bluntly to reporters. "They’re going after me, a U.S. senator, for something I said that was lawful, was the truth."
Kelly's attorney has vowed to challenge the probe in court, labelling it "unconstitutional and an extraordinary abuse of power." Notably, the move has drawn criticism from some Senate Republicans as well. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he did not believe Kelly broke any laws, while Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) called the investigation a "terrible idea."
Broader Concerns Over Military Action
The confrontation highlights deepening concerns in Congress about the Trump administration's military posture. Following the classified briefing, Senator Rand Paul also criticized the September 2 strikes. "I didn’t hear anything in there that really justifies blowing up people clinging to wreckage," Paul said. "I’ve seen nothing that really makes me think that that’s either a legal thing to do or a moral thing to do."
Democrats are demanding the administration release the full, unedited video footage of the strikes. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) expressed fear of the U.S. being drawn into another prolonged conflict. "We have thousands of troops and our largest aircraft carrier in the Caribbean—but zero, zero explanation for what Trump is trying to accomplish," Schumer said in a floor speech. He warned that "the risk for war will only get worse the more belligerent Donald Trump acts off the coast of South America."
The episode underscores the intense political and legal battles brewing over military authority, congressional oversight, and the limits of free speech for elected officials who are also military veterans.
