President Trump has lashed out at a group of Democratic lawmakers who released a video urging US service members to reject illegal orders , labeling their actions as “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR” punishable by death and calling for their arrest and trial.
The Democrats’ Call to Action
The video features six Democratic Congress members —two Senators and four Representatives—all of whom have a background in the US military or intelligence community.The lawmakers are:
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Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ)
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Representative Jason Crow (D-CO)
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Representative Maggie Goodlander (D-NH)
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Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)
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Representative Chris Deluzio (D-PA)
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Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)
In the 90-second video, the lawmakers state directly to active service members and intelligence officials: “Our laws are clear, you can refuse illegal orders, you must refuse illegal orders.No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our constitution.”
Senator Slotkin, a former CIA agent who served in Iraq, referenced concerns service members have raised regarding the deployment of active military in US cities and missile attacks on alleged drug boats as examples of potentially questionable orders. She insisted the group was prepared for the political fight and would not back down.
Trump’s Response and Threats
President Trump responded strongly to the video, posting multiple messages on Truth Social on Thursday morning, which targeted the lawmakers.
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He called the video “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL” and demanded, “Each one of these trainers to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL.”
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He also threatened that the behavior was “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”
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In addition, he reposted a user comment that said, “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!”
The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) does obligate service members to follow lawful orders and prohibits them from following illegal orders , which is a widely accepted principle in the US military. However, Trump and other Republican figures, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have condemned the video as “wildly inappropriate” and dangerous for suggesting troops disobey orders, arguing it undermines the chain of command.