The next is the transcript of the interview with Sen. Mark Kelly, Democrat of Arizona, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Nov. 23, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we’re joined now by Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, who joins us from Tucson, Arizona. Welcome again to Face The Nation, senator.
SEN. KELLY: Thanks for having me on.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I wish to choose up the place we left off on this subject of political violence. I do know your loved ones has suffered due to it, very, very immediately. After which this previous week, the president known as that video. You participated in, “sedition.” You heard me learn what he mentioned once more this morning, “sedition on the highest stage and a serious crime.” Have you ever- do you’ve credible threats? How involved are you about your safety at this level?
SEN. KELLY: Properly, Margaret, what the President mentioned may be very critical. I did not assume he would step over the, over that line calling for the execution of members of Congress, and his phrases carry large weight, extra so than anyone else within the nation, and he ought to pay attention to that. And due to what he says, there may be now an elevated threats towards us. I am not going to get into particulars on my private safety, however because the husband of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, we- I perceive what political violence is. The president ought to as nicely. Similar to Gabby, someone tried to assassinate him, and he ought to perceive that his phrases, have you already know, may have critical, critical penalties.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And I bear in mind simply weeks in the past, listening to from the president and different Republicans about the necessity to dial again the rhetoric after the tragic capturing of Charlie Kirk. In terms of your–
SEN. KELLY: Yeah, what occurred to that? I imply, that was two months in the past. The place are they now? We have heard little or no, principally crickets, from Republicans in america Congress about what the President has mentioned about hanging members of Congress.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is what I wished to ask you. Why aren’t we listening to out of your Republican colleagues and when it comes to your safety, I perceive there was a request so that you can get a lift in Capitol Hill safety help. Are Republican members on board with that?
SEN. KELLY: I do not know. I’ve heard them say, you already know little or no about this. I believe you already know the President tries to intimidate them. He tries to intimidate Congress. He appears to be like at authorities accountability as a nuisance. And I believe it is actually essential for individuals to grasp, Margaret, that the message he despatched a pair days in the past was, he declared that loyalty to the Structure is now punishable by loss of life. These are critical phrases coming from the President of america. He is attempting to intimidate us, however Margaret, I am not going to be intimidated. You already know, you simply heard Jason Crow. He isn’t going to be intimidated both. We each served our nation. We swore an oath. All we mentioned is we reiterated what principally is the rule of regulation that members of the navy mustn’t, can not observe unlawful orders.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, on that time, when it comes to lawful and illegal orders, it will get difficult for rank-and-file to grasp. I perceive and different networks have reported that the senior decide advocate down at SOUTHCOM raised critical doubts in regards to the legality of the strikes on these alleged drug votes, however was contradicted by attorneys on the government department. Have you ever spoken to the SOUTHCOM commander? Do you- are you listening to that there are illegal orders being given?
SEN. KELLY: Properly, we’re listening to the identical factor that you’re. The administration hasn’t shared a lot info with us. I learn the authorized evaluation. It was identical to the briefs. They’re tying themselves in knots attempting to clarify why what they’re doing as regards to these drug boats is authorized and it is, it is questionable at greatest. Our- considered one of our greatest allies, the UK, lately stopped sharing intelligence with us within the Caribbean as a result of they query whether or not that is authorized or not. We have been asking for extra briefings from the suitable individuals. We’ve got not obtained them, however the info that you just simply shared with me is the, is the general public info. I haven’t got far more past that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, and the French authorities has mentioned it is a violation of worldwide regulation and the regulation of the ocean. That is what our allies are saying about these strikes which might be taking place there. However, is that why–
SEN. KELLY: However, Margaret getting again to–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –you made this video?
SEN. KELLY: No. The rationale why we made this video is a pair issues. This president, from earlier than he was in workplace as he was a candidate, to the time he was in workplace in his first administration, has mentioned issues that trigger us nice concern. There’s a pattern right here. When he was operating for president, the primary time he talked about he wished the navy, he mentioned he would, he would- the navy must be killing the households of terrorists. And when he was advised that that was unlawful, this was on a debate stage, he principally mentioned that the navy won’t refuse to observe my orders, that they are going to perform his orders no matter what they had been. Taking pictures protesters within the legs is one thing he introduced up in his first administration and fortunately, Mark Esper, his Secretary of Protection, and Mark Milley, you already know, principally advised him, you can’t do this. In the event that they weren’t there, consider what probably may have occurred. So, we’re involved–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, I would like- yeah, I am sorry. I simply wish to ensure that I get to you on Ukraine, as a result of there’s a lot taking place, and I do know you are such an enormous supporter of Ukraine. There are three outstanding U.S. senators who’ve gone on the report now, together with Republican Mike Rounds, who mentioned yesterday, Secretary of State Rubio advised them he was unaware of a risk to chop off U.S. help to Ukraine if they do not settle for this proposed plan that is on the desk. Right here is how Senator Rounds described it.
SEN. MIKE ROUNDS SOT: What he advised us was that this was not the American proposal. This was a proposal which was obtained by somebody who has recognized they usually consider to be representing Russia on this proposal. It was given to Mr. Witkoff.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So since these remarks had been made and backed up by a number of senators, I’ve obtained telephone calls from Senior White Home officers from, from senior U.S. officers saying, no, no, no, that is in no way what, what Secretary Rubio mentioned. What model of occasions will we consider right here when it comes to what America is placing ahead?
SEN. KELLY: Margaret, they have to clear this up. You’ve got Rubio speaking to my Senate colleague, saying one factor. The spokesperson for the State Division saying one other. Your conversations with the White Home contradict what the Secretary of State and, by the way in which, the Nationwide Safety Adviser, identical man, has mentioned about this. They have, they have to determine this out and get the message out and clarify to the American individuals what is going on on. I’ll say this, that, that, that plan, that is Putin’s plan. That may be a excellent deal for Russia. It’s a horrible deal for Ukraine, for our allies and even for our personal nationwide safety. If Putin will get the possibility with that deal to, you already know, rearm, rebuild his financial system and acquire territory, by the way in which, that is what he wished. Then the Baltics, Poland, Romania, all these different international locations down the road are at risk.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, the U.S. retains emphasizing it’s a working doc, so it could be in a distinct state than what was leaked by an anti-Zelensky politician, however Ukraine’s Ambassador did inform us there is a separate safety assure doc. What, what must be in there that may truly defend Ukraine? Does that have to go for a vote earlier than the U.S. Congress?
SEN. KELLY: Properly, it depends upon what it’s, however Congress must be concerned. If there’s a treaty with Ukraine on their very own safety, it is one thing that we’d wish to have some say in. And in the end we’d vote on in america Senate we’d ship to the president, however they should be speaking to us about this, on each side of the aisle. Usually the trail they are going on lately is to only share info with the Republicans and even my Republican colleagues do not appear to love that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: No.
SEN. KELLY: However, that is what this White Home is, is doing, and it is as a result of they do not need congressional oversight in, in any approach, whether or not it is on Ukraine, Venezuela, or any, any subject.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All proper, we obtained to depart it there, senator, however to your level, plenty of very fiery statements from Republican senators prior to now few hours. We’ll be proper again with much more Face the Nation. Stick with us.
