WASHINGTON, D.C. — A one-minute, 30-second video about “illegal military orders” has set off backlash from Republicans, explosive posts from President Donald Trump and new safety concerns for Democratic members of Congress.
A group of Democratic veterans and former intelligence officials shared a video Tuesday urging active military and intelligence officials to refuse “illegal orders.”
“You can refuse illegal orders,” said Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., a former CIA officer, in the video featuring herself, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.; Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo.; Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H.; Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa.; and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa.
“No one has to carry out orders that violate the law,” Slotkin added.
“You must refuse illegal orders,” Rep. Crow said.
Republicans on Capitol Hill did not hold back criticism of the video.
“What my colleagues had to say was disturbing,” said Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., on Thursday. “I couldn’t believe it. I thought it was AI for a little while until I watched it and then saw that they actually pieced that together, created a message to our troops to not follow orders.”
“It’s not a troop in the field’s responsibility to determine the legality of their orders or their following orders. They’re basically trying to command people in the field to betray the wishes of the commander in chief,” said Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y. “It is just highly unproductive and out of bounds for members of Congress to be doing that.”
“Shame on them for doing that,” said Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Pa. “I don’t know. I’m not sure there is anything at this point… I just think that they ought to acknowledge and apologize for what they did,” he said when asked if the Democratic members should face consequences for the video.
However, Trump took his rebuke of the video even further in a series of posts and reposts on Truth Social.
“It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL,” one post read. “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” Trump said in another.
“Earlier today, President Trump threatened myself and a number of other service and veteran lawmakers with arrest, trial and death,” Slotkin said Thursday. “I would hope that people of all backgrounds, Democrat, Republican, Independent, would agree that threatening death for people you disagree with is beyond the pale of who we are as Americans.”
“He responded that this is borderline or seditious and what the penalty is for sedition,” Meuser said of the president’s comments. “I’m not saying I would have done it, but, you know, the president’s a pretty serious guy. He’s pretty black and white.”
“Certainly, I don’t believe that Trump literally believes that these people should be hanged,” Langworthy said. “He probably should not have taken that step and made that tweet.”
On Friday, House Democrats blasted the president’s comments.
“They [Democratic lawmakers] reminded service members of their obligation and oath to follow the Constitution. Donald Trump, a draft dodger, is obviously a weak and lawless crook who doesn’t believe in that oath. But we veterans take it seriously, and so do our troops,” said Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass. “Your oath is to the law, not to any one man.”
In the original video, the Democratic lawmakers did not specify exactly what orders would be considered unlawful. The White House said this week every order given to service members has been lawful.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Thursday he has requested additional security protections for the senators in the video.
“I have asked the Capitol Police to get special protection and keep an eye on Slotkin and Kelly as well because you got to worry after the president says these things,” Schumer said.
