Trump Labels Democrat Lawmakers as “Traitors”
On Thursday, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to denounce six Democratic lawmakers, calling them “traitors” following their release of a video that appeared to encourage members of the U.S. military and intelligence community to disobey orders from his administration.
Trump demanded their “ARREST AND PUT ON TRIAL.”
The video featured Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and Representatives Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), Chris Deluzio (D-Penn.), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Penn.).
In the video, the six lawmakers called on U.S. service members to “refuse illegal orders,” in connection with the administration’s ongoing airstrikes against suspected cartel vessels in the Caribbean.
Trump described the situation as “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL,” asserting that such actions threaten the nation’s integrity. He posted multiple times, emphasizing that these lawmakers’ words cannot be tolerated, urging for accountability: “A example MUST BE SET. President DJT.”
He further warned of the seriousness of their actions, calling it “really bad, and Dangerous to our Country.” He even stated, “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”
The video, titled “Don’t Give Up the Ship,” starts with the lawmakers sharing their military and intelligence backgrounds, before urging military personnel to “refuse unlawful orders” and “stand up for our laws.”
According to the video, “This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens.” They highlighted that threats to the Constitution are prevalent both abroad and within the country.
While they didn’t specify which orders they were referring to, Slotkin and her colleagues later proposed legislation aimed at limiting President Trump’s ability to deploy the National Guard or conduct military strikes on suspected drug vessels without congressional oversight.
In response, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth dismissed the video as an example of “Stage 4 TDS” (Trump Derangement Syndrome), while numerous political commentators accused the lawmakers of promoting treasonous behavior.
During a recent Fox News segment, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche criticized the lawmakers’ actions as “abhorrent,” arguing that they were encouraging military and intelligence personnel to defy legitimate orders.
Blanche remarked, “There is nothing illegal about what we are doing… Their conduct is wrong.”
In defense, Slotkin suggested that Republicans were using intimidation tactics to silence discussion on this issue. She argued, “They don’t want to be talking about the deployment of the military in our streets… It goes to the heart of who we are as Americans, as a democracy.” She called for a public hearing to address these concerns.
