Arizona Senator Mark Kelly admitted that President Trump deserves a “lot of credit” for brokering the Gaza peace deal before stating that Kamala Harris should be the Democrat nominee in 2028.
Kelly made the comments during an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday morning.
Here is a transcript of the exchange:
BASH: How much credit does President Trump deserve for this deal?
KELLY: I hink he should get a lot of credit. I mean, this was his deal. He worked this out. He sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner over to negotiate this. And so far, it’s gone well. Hopefully, the hostages get released here — might not be within 24 hours — but certainly, I think, by Monday. And that’s progress. And now we’re going to have to see what happens next.
You know, my hope is the Saudis, the Emiratis, they step up and they do what they said they would do, which is invest in rebuilding Gaza, which 90 percent of the homes have been destroyed. It is such a tragic situation. It’s good to see these 600 aid trucks. That should have been happening over the last two years. You know, feed people who just are starving and struggling.”
BASH: You mentioned looking forward, and I should mention that you visited the region several times during this conflict. There are multiple sticking points in the 20-point plan, particularly when we get to like point six, and the whole question of whether or not Hamas will lay down its arms. How realistic is that?”
KELLY: I think it’s possible, I am concerned, that they may change their minds here. They’re in a challenging spot. The Iranians, their benefactor, is not what it was even just months ago. So I think they see the writing on the wall here that things have turned not in their direction, which is a good thing. I think that allows us to get this deal. so this is the right time, you know, with the right deal but you’re right there’s twenty or twenty one points in this plan ,and a lot of things have to happen to get to a lasting peace.
Watch the clip below:
Democrat Senator Mark Kelly says President Trump deserves credit for the Gaza peace deal.
KELLY: “I think he should get a lot of credit. This was his deal, he worked this out, he sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner over to negotiate this… [this deal] is progress.” pic.twitter.com/RoqKPzBCuu
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 12, 2025
After making those remarks on CNN, Kelly then appeared on NBC News with Kristen Welker, where he appeared to endorse Kamala Harris as a candidate for the 2028 Democratic nomination.
“Absolutely,” he said when asked whether Kamala Harris would be a strong candidate in 2028. “She was the nominee last time… I think she would be incredibly strong.”
Mark Kelly: Kamala would be an “incredibly strong” presidential candidate for Democrats in 2028.
Yes. Do it. Please. pic.twitter.com/bkHM7VEiRh
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) October 12, 2025
Kelly was considered as a potential running mate for Kamala Harris after Joe Biden dropped out of the race, but was eventually passed over in favor of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.