Sen. Kelly says Pete Hegseth 'unqualified' after being bashed over display of medals
Kelly criticized Hegseth and the administration after the Pentagon opened a review into his message to troops.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates Yahoo News, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
Yahoo News is an established national news publisher, and the article identifies its authors. The story attributes key claims, though it offers limited independent verification or broader sourcing.
- Source type — An established national news publisher, though Yahoo also aggregates outside reporting.
- Author attribution — Two authors are named.
- Editorial standards — The report attributes important claims to named speakers and official statements, but provides little independent corroboration.
- Transparency — The article identifies sources for several claims, but gives limited detail about its reporting process.
The article includes comments from Kelly, Hegseth and the Defense Department and explains potential consequences of the review. It relies heavily on statements from the involved parties and provides limited independent verification or outside context.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article presents statements from both Kelly and Hegseth, along with the Defense Department’s explanation for the review. It does not provide independent analysis or much context from other sources.
- Counterarguments presented — Kelly’s criticism and Hegseth’s rationale for objecting to the video are both included.
- Source diversity — The report mainly relies on the involved officials and an official department statement.
- Omitted context — The article gives limited independent context on the military review process and the video’s legal implications.
- Loaded language — Strong descriptions are primarily presented as attributed quotations.
The report uses mostly straightforward language and attributes the competing claims to the people making them. Its focus on Kelly’s criticism and Hegseth’s response does not establish a discernible political lean.
- Language tone — Mostly descriptive language, with charged terms presented as quotations or attributed claims.
- Source selection — Includes statements from Kelly, Hegseth and the Defense Department, but few outside perspectives.
- Framing — Frames the story around Kelly’s criticism and the review of his conduct.
Republished
Republished from ABC News. The relationship between the two publishers has not been determined.
167 stories · 83–84 · updated Oct 10, 2026
This is ABC News's own score, and this article is credited to ABC News. The host score in the Source Check is Yahoo News's.
Sen. Mark Kelly criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on television after the Pentagon announced a review of Kelly over a video advising troops they need not follow illegal orders. Hegseth had also criticized Kelly’s display of his military medals.
Kelly was one of six Democrats in a video telling military members they did not have to follow illegal orders. After President Donald Trump criticized the lawmakers and Hegseth asked the Navy secretary to review Kelly’s comments, the Defense Department announced a “thorough review.” Kelly said the administration’s reaction was meant to sow fear and described Hegseth as unqualified.
Hegseth also criticized Kelly’s display of his medals and said the military already had procedures for handling unlawful orders. Kelly said he learned Trump had called for his and Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s execution, and argued that the review could lead to military prosecution or a reduction in rank and pension.
Community verdict
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Votes cast on this page: ▲ 13 · ◆ 4 · ▼ 11
People in this story
SWIPE →Defense secretary who sought a review of Kelly and criticized his medals
Hegseth's version of this story ↗Senator who was also named in Trump’s reported threat
President who criticized the lawmakers in the video
Part of a bigger story
4 OUTLETS- ARTICLES
- 4
- OUTLETS
- 4
- AVG CRED
- 59
- Fox News · Hegseth tells Sen Mark Kelly 'you can't even display your uniform correctly'
- redstate.com · War Secretary Pete Hegseth Torches 'Seditious Six' Democrats, Mocks Mark Kelly's Uniform Post
- twitchy.com · 'Your Medals Are Out of Order': Pete Hegseth Takes Mark Kelly's Sanctimonious 'MUH OATH' Post APART
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