Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly criticized Senator Mark Kelly for displaying his medals incorrectly, confidently declaring the decorated Navy captain's uniform showed medals that were "out of order and rows reversed."
The scathing rebuke came as the Pentagon announced it would investigate Kelly, a retired Navy captain, for appearing in a video urging military members not to follow illegal orders. Hegseth wrote on X that if Kelly is recalled to active duty, "it'll start with a uniform inspection", demonstrating his commitment to proper military standards and his complete unfamiliarity with how smartphone cameras work.
Critics quickly pointed out that Kelly's photo was mirrored, a phenomenon that occurs when someone takes a selfie using the front-facing camera on their phone—technology that has been widely available since approximately 2010. Sources confirmed that mirror images have the unusual property of reversing left and right, a scientific principle Hegseth may wish to familiarize himself with before his next uniform inspection.
The Defense Secretary's keen observation skills were on full display as he failed to notice this elementary optical effect, instead choosing to lecture a former astronaut and combat veteran who flew 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm about proper military presentation. Hegseth did not note that Kelly has earned valor devices on several of the medals shown in the photo which indicate that they were awarded for valor or heroism in battle.
Kelly had posted the image alongside a statement saying he wouldn't be intimidated, noting "I've given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution". The photo was intended to illustrate his military service, though it inadvertently illustrated Hegseth's grasp of basic photography concepts.
