Democratic Lawmakers Urge Military to Reject Illegal Orders
A group of Democratic legislators with military and intelligence experience posted a video on Tuesday, urging military personnel to “reject illegal orders.” This message has received criticism from conservatives, who interpreted it as a call to defy President Donald Trump and Army Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The brief video, shared by Sen. Elissa Slotkin from Michigan, has garnered over 1.6 million views. It features six Congress members discussing their past military service and warning that “threats to our Constitution come right here at home.”
In recent weeks, Slotkin and her colleagues have been advocating for legislation aimed at restricting Trump’s ability to deploy the National Guard domestically or initiate military actions against drug traffickers without Congressional consent. However, the video itself does not mention these legislative efforts, instead framing the discussion as a straightforward warning to service members to “obey our laws” and “reject illegal orders.”
Responses from conservative commentators have been swift, with some alleging that the call to action is tantamount to treason against the United States. A conservative TikTok account described it as an encouragement for military personnel to disobey Trump and Hegseth’s directives.
Sen. Eric Schmidt from Missouri also criticized the video, asserting that it reflects anger towards Trump’s election and constitutes a request for the military to intervene, which he deemed a subversion of democracy.
In response to the viral video, Hegseth commented on social media using the term “Stage 4 TDS”—a reference to what some call “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” The Army later confirmed this remark without further elaboration.
Slotkin has introduced legislation dubbed the “No Street Parking Law,” which aims to give Congress authority to prevent National Guard deployment in U.S. cities. This follows Trump’s expansion of National Guard operations in places like Los Angeles and Portland amidst rising crime rates.
Meanwhile, Rep. Jason Crow from Colorado has been vocal, describing moves to authorize military strikes against drug traffickers as “unauthorized and illegal.” His concerns were echoed in a statement about preventing military action in Caribbean waters.
Slotkin and her fellow Democrats emphasize that their efforts focus on reaffirming Congressional authority rather than being purely political. Their video, set to upbeat music, does not specifically reference their proposed legislation, but it does include notable visuals and calls for rejecting unlawful orders.
The lawmakers featured include Slotkin, Sen. Mark Kelly from Arizona, and several others from Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. They collectively assert that “unlawful orders can be refused; illegal orders must be refused,” representing multiple branches of the military and intelligence community.
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan stated that the administration and some media outlets might misinterpret their intentions. She insisted that reminding military personnel of their constitutional responsibilities is purely patriotic and crucial to maintaining the rule of law. She concluded that the phrase “Never Abandon Ship,” traditionally a naval motto, signifies steadfastness and loyalty to the country.
The video comes in the context of a 43-day government shutdown during Trump’s presidency, which did not affect paychecks for American troops. As of now, there has been no immediate response from the White House or the lawmakers involved regarding the criticism or the video itself.
