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President Trump Accuses Democratic Lawmakers of Sedition Over Military Video
President Donald Trump on Thursday accused six Democratic lawmakers of committing sedition “punishable by DEATH” after they released a video urging U.S. military members to uphold the Constitution and refuse “illegal orders.”
The controversy erupted after Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan posted a 90-second video on X early Tuesday featuring herself and five other Democratic lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds. The group included Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and Representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, and Chrissy Houlahan.
In the video, the lawmakers introduce themselves and their service credentials before addressing U.S. troops, acknowledging they are “under enormous stress and pressure right now.” The group claims the Trump administration “is pitting our uniformed military against American citizens” and calls on service members to “refuse illegal orders” and “stand up for our laws.”
The message concludes with the lawmakers encouraging service members to “Don’t give up the ship,” a naval battle cry dating back to the War of 1812.
Trump’s response came Thursday when he reposted an article about the video, adding his own commentary: “really bad, and Dangerous to our Country.” In subsequent posts, he wrote “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!!” and “LOCK THEM UP???” He further escalated by calling it “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH.”
The president also reposted more than a dozen comments from supporters criticizing the Democrats, including one that stated: “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!”
The White House defended Trump’s comments during Thursday’s press briefing. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt focused on the Democrats’ message, suggesting it “perhaps is punishable by law.” She characterized the lawmakers’ call to “defy the chain of command, not to follow lawful orders” as “a very dangerous thing for sitting members of Congress to do.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson downplayed Trump’s posts, saying the president was merely “defining a crime” and calling the Democrats’ video “wildly inappropriate.”
“Think of the threat that is to our national security and what it means for our institution,” Johnson added.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer took a different view, warning in a floor speech that the president was “lighting a match in a country soaked with political gasoline.”
The controversy highlights the complex legal and ethical position of U.S. military personnel regarding orders. Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, service members have an obligation to refuse unlawful orders but can face criminal charges under Articles 90 and 92 for disobeying lawful commands. Military commanders typically have legal advisors to help make such determinations, but rank-and-file troops rarely have similar resources.
Trump allies characterized the Democrats’ video as dangerous. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called it “insurrection — plainly, directly, without question” during a Fox News appearance, describing it as “a general call for rebellion from the CIA and the armed services of the United States, by Democrat lawmakers.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed the video as “Stage 4 TDS” (Trump Derangement Syndrome), a term used by the president to describe critics he believes are irrationally opposed to him.
The Steady State, a network of national security experts, defended the lawmakers’ message as “only a restatement of what every officer and enlisted servicemember already knows: illegal orders can and should be refused. This is not a political opinion. It is doctrine.”
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell challenged the premise that illegal orders were being issued, telling The Associated Press: “Our military follows orders, and our civilians give legal orders. We love the Constitution. These politicians are out of their minds.”
The controversy comes amid ongoing tensions over the Trump administration’s attempts to deploy National Guard troops in various U.S. cities, with some deployments being pulled back or challenged in court.
Political analysts note that the six lawmakers in the video are seen as potential candidates for higher office, and the national attention generated by the controversy may have inadvertently elevated their political profiles.
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18 Comments
This is a concerning and highly charged situation. I think it’s important for all elected officials, regardless of party, to focus on upholding democratic norms and the rule of law, rather than making inflammatory accusations. We need more responsible leadership.
Well said. The President’s comments are extremely troubling and set a dangerous precedent. All elected leaders should be working to strengthen our democratic institutions, not undermine them.
This is a complex and sensitive issue. I’m not sure there are easy answers, but I do believe that all elected officials, regardless of party, should be working to support and strengthen democratic institutions, not undermine them.
Well said. At the end of the day, we need our leaders to put country over party and find ways to work together constructively, even in the face of disagreement.
While I understand the President’s concerns about military discipline, his language here is highly concerning. Accusing elected officials of ‘sedition punishable by death’ is an extremely serious and inflammatory allegation that should not be made lightly.
Absolutely. The President’s rhetoric is reckless and counterproductive. We need our leaders to focus on uniting the country, not stoking further division and conflict.
The President’s response here is highly concerning and seems to cross the line into dangerous territory. Accusing lawmakers of ‘sedition punishable by death’ is an extreme and inflammatory allegation that is likely to only deepen political divisions. We need our leaders to take a more measured and responsible approach.
I agree completely. The President’s rhetoric is reckless and irresponsible. All elected officials, regardless of party, should be focused on upholding democratic norms and the Constitution, not engaging in such divisive and inflammatory language.
While I understand the President’s concerns, accusing lawmakers of ‘sedition punishable by death’ is an overreaction and sets a dangerous precedent. There are more constructive ways to address disagreements within government.
Exactly, the President’s rhetoric is extremely divisive and counterproductive. We need cooler heads to prevail and focus on the real challenges facing the country.
This is a concerning statement from the President. Questioning the loyalty of military members is extremely serious and divisive. All elected officials should be working to support and uphold the Constitution, not sow discord.
I agree, the President’s accusation of ‘sedition’ is highly inflammatory and inappropriate. The lawmakers were simply urging service members to uphold their oaths, which is their duty.
While I can understand the President’s concern about maintaining military discipline, his rhetoric here seems over-the-top and counterproductive. Calling for the execution of elected officials is never an appropriate response, even in the heat of political disagreement.
Absolutely. The President’s comments are reckless and inflammatory. Elected officials should be working to uphold democratic norms, not undermine them with such extreme language.
Hmm, this seems like another example of the President making inflammatory statements that only serve to deepen political divisions. I wish our leaders would focus more on uniting the country rather than stoking outrage.
I share your concern. Accusing lawmakers of ‘sedition punishable by death’ is an extremely serious allegation that should not be made lightly, especially by the President. We need more responsible leadership.
This is a delicate and complex issue, but the President’s response seems disproportionate and unhelpful. Accusing lawmakers of ‘sedition punishable by death’ is an extreme and divisive escalation that is unlikely to improve the situation.
I agree. The President’s comments are irresponsible and only serve to further polarize the political landscape. We need our leaders to take a more measured and statesmanlike approach, even in the face of disagreement.