Sports journalist Stephen A. Smith has sharply criticized Senator Mark Kelly for appearing in a video in which Democratic lawmakers with military backgrounds tell service members they can and must refuse illegal orders from the Trump administration. The video, released last week, warns of threats to the Constitution from within the United States, a message Smith questioned as an appropriate direct appeal to troops.
Last week, according to The Daily Wire, a group of six Democratic lawmakers — Sens. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mark Kelly of Arizona, along with Reps. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, and Jason Crow of Colorado — released a video aimed at members of the military and intelligence community. All six are described as former members of the military or national security community. In the video, they urge personnel to "refuse illegal orders" from superiors in the Trump administration.
In the clip, the lawmakers say, "The administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens." They also emphasize their shared oath: "Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, right now." They continue, "The threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home."
They go on to stress the legal standard for following commands: "Our laws are clear: You can refuse illegal orders." The message is repeated for emphasis: "You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution."
Stephen A. Smith, a prominent sports journalist and self-described Democrat, responded forcefully on his "Straight Shooter" SiriusXM show, focusing much of his criticism on Kelly. "Respectfully, senator, what the hell are you doing looking into the camera and telling military men and women to ignore the commander-in-chief? How dare you? How dare you do that? That’s right, I’m calling it out," Smith said, according to the Daily Wire account of his remarks.
Acknowledging that he has not served in uniform, Smith said, "I never served in the military. That’s true. I have family members who did. Some of my best friends have, Marines, Air Force, Navy, Army. I haven’t heard one of them, not one of them, say that was okay. How dare you do that?"
Smith also addressed President Donald Trump’s angry reaction to the video, in which Trump described the lawmakers’ actions as "sedition" and suggested they should face the most severe penalties. Smith rejected that view, saying, "Is it treason? No. Is it punishable by death? It shouldn’t be," in what Daily Wire reported as an apparent reference to Trump’s comments.
Instead, Smith argued that if Kelly believes the president is issuing unlawful directives, he should use institutional channels available to him in Congress. "You are a ranking senator. You could go to the Senate, you could go to the House, you could put up — draw up paperwork, you could try to start articles of impeachment if you think there’s something illegal," Smith said.
Pointing to recent history, Smith added, "I mean, damn, it ain’t like y’all haven’t done it before. You impeached the man twice. Where did that get you? Guy is back in the White House. Had you left him alone in 2016 and 2020, maybe he wouldn’t be back terrorizing the Democratic Party the way that he is. But you did it! You did it! And here you are again with this nonsense."
He concluded by reiterating his objection to the lawmakers’ appeal to troops: "How dare you do that? I’m not a military person, and I know better than that! You don’t tell military men and women to ignore an order from the commander-in-chief. You don’t do that."
Smith’s comments, which have circulated widely online, underscore the sharp political and constitutional debate over how military personnel should respond if they believe presidential orders are unlawful — and whether elected officials should directly encourage service members to refuse such commands.
