ICYMI: Kelly Talks About the Death of American Servicemembers in Trump’s Iran War

"How do you explain to those family members…why did they lose their lives? What was this for? How did this make us safer?"

Last night, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly sat down with MS NOW's Jen Psaki to condemn Trump's reckless war in Iran, especially following the deaths of three servicemembers since last Friday.

Kelly also discussed his opposition of Jay Clayton's nomination as Director of National Intelligence.

Sen. Kelly talks to Jen Psaki on The Briefing with Jen Psaki.

On Trump sending servicemembers into harm's way without a plan or strategy…

"Every servicemember who volunteers to join the U.S. military deploy overseas, they understand the risk. The risk is from doing something that's in furtherance of our safety and our national security. And people get that. I flew 39 combat missions in the first Gulf War. We've got millions of veterans that have fought overseas over the years, over the decades.

"What you don't expect is to have a president that takes us into a conflict without an explainable strategic goal, without a plan, without a timeline, without an exit strategy.

"How do you explain to those family members, why did their sons and daughters-in this case, parents, in a lot of cases, children-why did they lose their lives? What was this for? How did this make us safer?"

On the consequences of Trump refusing to take criticism…

"You should be okay with criticism. I've been in leadership roles throughout my career. I used to tell my Space Shuttle crew members, 'Question my decisions, please do that, because at times maybe I'm making the wrong decision.' You don't see that from this administration.

"And because of that, because of this lack of accountability and their desire to never be criticized, and a president that just wants 'yes' people around him, this is what happens. You wind up in a conflict on the other side of the world with-now we're approaching 20 dead Americans, 100 injured, tens of billions of dollars spent and costs skyrocketing for the American people. When we have folks across our country that can't afford rent and health care and even food, that's the consequence of a president making such a bad decision as he did back in February."

On why he won't support Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence…

"I can't support him. When Sue Collins wrote the law that created the position, she said 'extensive national security experience. He doesn't have any national security experience. Very little. Maybe a little bit more than Bill Pulte. I think he's better than Bill Pulte. He is not qualified for the job for that reason. I'll be voting against him."