Donald Trump, at 79 years old, faced backlash after mistakenly promoting a call for his impeachment while criticizing a group of Democratic lawmakers. This incident occurred following the release of a video by these lawmakers urging U.S. service members and intelligence personnel to refuse illegal orders. In his social media posts, Trump shared a screenshot of Senator Mark Kelly, a retired naval officer featured in the video, from an account named "Impeach Trump a 3rd Time," which advocates for his impeachment.

The screenshot inadvertently highlighted Kelly's message about refusing illegal orders, contradicting Trump's intended attack. Trump's criticism of Kelly and five other Democrats included accusations of "sedition," with Trump suggesting their actions could be punishable by death. He later insisted that he was not threatening the lawmakers with execution, despite the violent implications of his posts. The White House indicated that the Pentagon and Justice Department would investigate whether any laws had been violated.

In a related development, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Pentagon was considering recalling Kelly to active duty to face court-martial proceedings based on serious allegations of misconduct. The Defense Department stated that a thorough review of these allegations was underway, which could lead to administrative actions or court-martial proceedings. The term "sedition" in military law refers to actions aimed at overthrowing lawful civilian authority and carries severe penalties.

Kelly responded to the situation, expressing surprise at the threats and referencing Trump's posts that suggested he should be arrested or executed. Additionally, Trump faced criticism for other social media posts, including a misattribution of praise to a Republican representative who had not appeared on a recent broadcast. This incident has raised concerns about the implications of political rhetoric and the potential for state aggression against dissenting voices.