Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) got into a fiery argument Tuesday over the Trump administration's lethal boat strikes in the Caribbean, off the coast of Venezuela.
The two were at a classified briefing with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Hegseth and House lawmakers when Kelly, who was apparently sitting in the front row, asked about the ongoing operations, Punchbowl News reporter Andrew Desiderio wrote on X.
Hegseth — whose Department of Defense is investigating Kelly over a video he made with other Democratic lawmakers warning active military members not to follow unlawful orders — reportedly responded and referenced the difference between lawful and unlawful orders. The lawmakers in the video, including Kelly, are all veterans.
"Kelly interrupted Hegseth as Hegseth was going after him for the video, noting his question had nothing to do with that," Desiderio wrote.
"INSIDE THE ROOM -- MARK KELLY and PETE HEGSETH get into heated dust up during classified briefing," Jake Sherman, Punchbowl News founder, wrote on X.
An attorney representing Kelly, who has questioned Hegseth's decisions, fired off a warning letter to the Department of Defense on Monday, saying the Arizona Democrat is prepared to take whatever legal action is necessary to stop what they regard as an illegal and politically motivated investigation into him.
Hegseth has faced scrutiny over his role in the lethal boat strikes in the Caribbean during military operations, which some legal experts warned amounted to war crimes or outright murder. The boat strike incidents raised concerns among lawmakers and military observers about rules of engagement, civilian casualties, and whether appropriate oversight and accountability measures were followed during these operations under Hegseth's command or purview.
