Retired General Criticizes Senators for Illegal Order Video, Calling It an Insult to Chain of Command

By James Morley III | Tuesday, 25 November 2025 05:48 PM EST

A retired Army general criticized Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and other Democrat lawmakers on Tuesday who released a video urging service members to refuse illegal orders, calling the message “an insult to our chain of command.” Maj. Gen. James “Spider” Marks told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that Kelly and his colleagues were “inappropriate” in how they framed the issue, suggesting their wording implied distrust of military leadership and undue concern about influence from the administration.

“I would completely disagree with that underlying assessment, which brought them to make these statements.” Marks said Kelly should have reconsidered the tone and implications of the video. “He could have taken a step back and asked why he was sending a message that clearly insults our chain of command.”

The video, organized by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., a former CIA analyst who served multiple tours in Iraq, has sparked intense political backlash. Earlier this week, the Pentagon said it would be investigating Kelly for potential violations of the U.S. military legal code, known as the Uniform Code of Military Justice or UCMJ. Marks said he was concerned the “underlying message” of the video would be perceived by enlisted service members as a sign that lawmakers “don’t trust the uniformed leadership.”

“God bless Sen. Kelly and what he’s accomplished in his life,” Marks added. “However, he could have taken a step back and asked why he was sending a message that clearly insults our chain of command.”

Politics