The View Criticizes Pete Hegseth's Navy Review of Mark Kelly's Comments on Defying Orders

Defense Secretary's Navy Review

• 🎯 Pete Hegseth has requested the Navy review comments made by Senator Mark Kelly, a US Navy veteran, regarding service members defying unlawful orders.
• ⚠️ This action stems from a video where Kelly and other lawmakers encouraged service members to question and refuse illegal directives.
• 🗓️ Hegseth sent a letter to the Secretary of the Navy on November 18th, 2025, requesting a review by December 10th, 2025.

Accusations of Political Targeting

• ⚡ Critics, including Alyssa Farah Griffin on 'The View', suggest Hegseth's review is politically motivated, aimed at targeting opponents of the Trump administration.
• 💡 Griffin posits that Hegseth's actions are an attempt to gain favor with Trump, especially as Hegseth is perceived to be sidelined in Ukraine negotiations, with Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll emerging as a key player.
• 📉 The review is expected to be unsuccessful, similar to cases involving Comey and Leticia James, potentially leading to embarrassment for Hegseth and the administration.

Mark Kelly's Response and Defense of His Comments

• 🎤 Mark Kelly addressed the controversy on Jimmy Kimmel's show, questioning Hegseth's qualifications for the job.
• ⚖️ Kelly highlighted the irony of being investigated under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) for reciting its principles.
• 🤔 He argued that it is reasonable for military members to question flagrantly unconstitutional orders, such as those that might involve harming civilians.

Interpretation of Military Oath and Legal Orders

• 💬 Kelly and other speakers discussed the military oath, which includes not following illegal or unconstitutional orders.
• 🇺🇸 The consensus among some speakers is that decisions about military engagements, especially those potentially violating international law or lacking Congressional authorization, should be made by lawmakers, not individual service members.
• ⚠️ The administration's use of counterterrorism tactics to circumvent Congressional leadership on such decisions is noted as problematic.

Concerns Over International Law and Political Violence

• 🌍 Critics point to instances like blowing up boats and asking questions later as potential violations of international policy, which could be considered flagrant.
• 💔 The discussion touches upon the impact of political violence, referencing the deaths of Charlie Kirk and Gabby Giffords' injury, and questions the appropriateness of threatening language, especially when shared by figures like Trump and Hegseth.
• ❓ The video's purpose is seen as timely, highlighting that military members have the option to consider legal ramifications and potentially resign if regularly troubled by their instructions, especially when the US itself is seen as violating international law.