President Donald Trump stumbled into an embarrassing online blunder on Monday, accidentally amplifying a social media account calling for his own impeachment while launching a tirade against a group of Democratic lawmakers he has repeatedly labeled “traitors.”
The misfire unfolded as the 79-year-old president posted a flurry of screenshots on Truth Social attacking six Democrats who appeared in a video urging U.S. service members and intelligence personnel to refuse illegal orders. One of those lawmakers, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona—a retired Navy captain and former astronaut—was featured prominently in Trump’s posts.
But in his rush to denounce the group, Trump inadvertently shared an image from an openly anti-Trump account named Impeach Trump a 3rd Time. The screenshot showed Kelly’s image under the caption “You Can Refuse Illegal Orders,” which was intended to criticize the president. Trump instead broadcast the message to his millions of followers, inadvertently reinforcing Kelly’s warning and boosting an account dedicated to removing him from office.
The account in question promotes a “blue wave in ‘26,” posts pro-Gavin Newsom memes, and regularly features content mocking the MAGA movement. It has also posted photos of burning MAGA hats and attacks on Trump’s mental fitness.
“Uh oh. Trump accidentally boosted anti-Trump account ‘Impeach Trump a 3rd Time!’” the left-leaning account Patriot Takes wrote on X, sharing its own screenshot of the mishap. “Grandpa has trouble reading,” another user replied, referencing Trump’s increasingly common online missteps.
Trump’s attempt to discredit the six lawmakers began last week after they released a video warning U.S. troops not to comply with illegal commands. The group included Kelly, Sen. Elissa Slotkin, and Reps. Chrissy Houlahan, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, and Jason Crow—all veterans or national security experts. Their message: Members of the military and intelligence community swear an oath to the Constitution, not to an individual president.
Trump responded with fury, accusing them of “sedition” and declaring their actions “punishable by DEATH!” on Truth Social. He also reposted a message reading “hang them,” sparking an avalanche of criticism from Democrats, military experts, and civil liberties organizations who said the president was openly inciting political violence.
By the weekend, Trump attempted to walk back his rhetoric, insisting he was not calling for their execution. But he maintained the lawmakers were in “serious trouble,” and hinted the Pentagon and Department of Justice should decide how to respond.
On Monday morning, the situation escalated again.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Pentagon was reviewing allegations of misconduct against Kelly and suggested they could recall the senator to active duty to face a court-martial. Because Kelly served more than 20 years on active duty and retired at the rank of captain, he is still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
“Sedition,” defined in military law as an attempt to overthrow lawful civilian authority, carries the possibility of the death penalty.
A Pentagon statement said officials had received “serious allegations of misconduct against Captain Mark Kelly, USN (Ret.),” and that “a thorough review” could lead to administrative measures or court-martial proceedings.
Kelly told reporters on Monday, “Secretary Hegseth’s tweet is the first I heard of this. I also saw the President’s posts saying I should be arrested, hanged, and put to death.”
The controversy overshadowed Trump’s other online gaffes, including a morning post in which he praised Rep. Tim Burchett for being “GREAT today on Fox & Friends.” Burchett had not appeared on the program. Fox News had only played a short clip of him from a day earlier—a fact immediately noted by critics who said Trump appeared confused and out of touch.
Trump also launched attacks on GOP Senator Rand Paul, calling him a “sick Wacko” and a “nasty liddle guy,” continuing a pattern of turning on Republicans who break with him politically.
The repeated missteps added fuel to an ongoing debate about Trump’s mental sharpness and situational awareness. Critics pointed to Monday’s events—the mistaken screenshot, the confusion about televised appearances, and the escalating threats against lawmakers—as evidence that the president is struggling to stay coherent under pressure.
The White House dismissed concerns, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisting that Trump had “zero confusion” in his posts and arguing that the Democratic lawmakers had “invited scrutiny” by releasing a video that questioned the legality of certain presidential orders.
But the episode marks one of the most visible recent examples of the president undermining his own messaging—this time by accidentally boosting a page calling for his impeachment.
As fallout continues, the administration faces growing scrutiny not only for Trump’s rhetoric but for the Pentagon’s unprecedented consideration of recalling a sitting U.S. senator to active duty for potential court-martial. For now, the mistake has handed critics fresh ammunition—and raised new questions about the president’s judgment during a time of escalating political tension.