ICYMI: Kelly: “Stand up for yourself and don’t back down.”
In case you missed it, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly joined ITV News’ Talking Politics podcast and The News Agents podcast with a simple message to anyone being attacked by President Donald Trump: don’t back down. Kelly warned the Trump administration is trying to intimidate critics and chill free speech and said it is his constitutional responsibility to speak out because America is strongest when we defend the rule of law and stand with our allies.
Sen. Kelly speaks on Talking Politics.
Watch the full Talking Politics interview here and the full The News Agents interview here. See key excepts below:
From Talking Politics, on his message to anyone Trump targets…
“My suggestion to people is do not back away. That’s what they want.
“So, whether you’re an individual, a retired service member like myself, a U.S. senator, or a country that feels like this guy has stepped over the line, my suggestion is to stand up for yourself and don’t back down.”
From The News Agents, on his responsibility to speak out…
“I serve on the Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee. My job, I view it, my constitutional responsibility is to point out when I think this president is doing the wrong thing. […] I think we we’ll get a better outcome if we continue to stand up to this guy.”
From Talking Politics, on the importance of working with our allies…
“I think being a strong leader is important. I think sticking up for our national interests is important, but we can do it in a way that doesn’t alienate our allies, and we don’t try to punish our allies. I think we’re stronger together and we can mutually benefit by a strong relationship.”
Sen. Kelly speaks on The News Agents.
From Talking Politics, on why this fight is bigger than him…
“I am not losing any sleep over this guy. I’ve been through a lot worse than this. I mean, I’ve nearly been shot down multiple times. I’ve had a missile blow up next to my airplane, an SA6 in the first Gulf War. A Triple A. I’ve almost flown into the ground a bunch of times. I flew on a spaceship built by the lowest bidder that could nearly blow up on me. So, I’ve been through a lot in my life. I am not going to let this guy intimidate me.
“I feel like I’m sticking up not only for 2 million retired service members and their right to say what they believe, but another 350 million Americans who, if they watch what’s going on with me and I don’t stick up for them, they’re going to be they’re going to back away from saying anything that is negative about this administration.
“I’ve got to tell this administration and this president and the Secretary of Defense that they cannot violate my constitutional rights because that matters and should matter to all Americans.”
From The News Agents, on refusing to back down…
“He threw Don Lemon, a journalist, he threw somebody like you guys in jail for doing their jobs. He has attacked law firms–got them to back down. Media companies—got them to back down. Universities—got them to back down. He’s not getting me to back down because this is too important. It’s not just about me.
“Donald Trump, he’s got a couple options here. He can continue to put the full force of the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice up against me, or he can go—I don’t want to use the wrong word here. What do you guys say? Bugger off. He can do that.”
