On Tuesday, a video surfaced on social media featuring a group of Democratic lawmakers urging U.S. military personnel to refrain from following certain orders. This message drew sharp criticism from various corners.
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pennsylvania), one of the lawmakers in the video, expressed frustration over how the video had been interpreted. “I’m not telling people to ignore orders,” she clarified on Wednesday. “I’m really upset that this rational message has been taken in such a negative light.”
Houlahan and five other Democrats with experience in military or intelligence roles had called on service members to reject unlawful orders. They emphasized that threats to the Constitution can arise from within the country, not just from outside. “Our laws are clear: Unlawful orders can and must be denied,” they stated, highlighting that no one should follow commands that contravene the law or the Constitution.
In the video, Houlahan used a Navy phrase to reinforce her point: “Don’t let go of the ship.”
Houlahan’s colleagues in the video included Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), along with Representatives Jason Crow (D-Colorado), Chris Deluzio (D-Pennsylvania), and Maggie Goodlander (D-New Hampshire). However, the video did not specify which types of orders should be refused.
Slotkin later commented on X, suggesting that military personnel involved in airstrikes off the coast of Venezuela might be participating in illegal actions, noting concerns raised by some pilots regarding their roles.
Republicans quickly dismissed these recommendations, claiming they reflected a Democratic obsession with former President Trump. Army Secretary Pete Hegseth remarked on X that it was an example of “Stage 4 TDS,” referring to the notion of Trump Derangement Syndrome prevalent in some Democratic circles.
Sen. Eric Schmidt (R-Missouri) criticized the video’s political tone, suggesting it implied a troubling call for military intervention against what he viewed as a legitimate democratic election outcome. He stated, “They’re upset the American people chose Trump, so now they want the military to step in. That sounds a lot like ‘subversion to democracy.’”
Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI), who is the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, voiced conditional support for the lawmakers’ message but acknowledged the complexities involved in determining lawful orders. “It’s a challenge to navigate these decisions,” he said.
When asked about what specific orders might need to be disregarded, Rep. Crow referred to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), reinforcing the idea of an obligation to the Constitution and the UCMJ standards.
The UCMJ, established by Congress in 1951, outlines the legal framework for military conduct, detailing offenses like desertion and war crimes, but it wasn’t mentioned in the lawmakers’ video.
Houlahan asserted the UCMJ should clarify the legal boundaries for military action. “For instance, we shouldn’t deploy the military against our own citizens. That’s why the UCMJ exists,” she noted, emphasizing the mechanisms available for service members to appeal questionable orders.
“You have a responsibility to know your chain of command. There’s a process for escalating concerns if you believe an order isn’t lawful or just,” Houlahan encouraged.
The Department of the Army has yet to comment on the situation.
