U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) told BBC Newsnight he will “seriously consider” running for president in 2028, citing “seriously challenging times” under the Trump administration.
The 61-year-old retired Navy captain and former NASA astronaut — one of the few engineers in the Senate — said the decision hasn’t been made yet but pointed to his unique qualifications: a graduate degree in engineering, 25 years of military service, and combat experience.
Trump Feud Escalates
Kelly is one of six lawmakers targeted by the administration after publishing a 90-second video encouraging military personnel to refuse illegal orders. The clip was released amid questions about the legality of American strikes on alleged narco-trafficking boats off South America’s coast.
President Trump accused Kelly of “seditious behaviour,” prompting a wave of death threats against the senator and his wife, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
“We get them on a weekly basis now,” Kelly said. “We had to get security to protect us 24 hours a day.”
Crowded 2028 Field
Kelly joins a growing list of Democrats eyeing the White House. Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in 2024, told the BBC in October she would “possibly” be president one day. California Governor Gavin Newsom is also considered a likely contender.
Kelly vowed to fight Trump’s legal action “even if it goes all the way to the Supreme Court.”
Source: BBC News
