President Donald Trump has publicly criticized six Democratic lawmakers, labeling their actions as "seditious" and calling for their arrest. This response was prompted by a video released by these lawmakers—Senators Elissa Slotkin (MI) and Mark Kelly (AZ), and Representatives Jason Crow (CO), Chrissy Houlahan (PA), Maggie Goodlander (NH), and Chris Deluzio (PA)—in which they urged military and intelligence personnel to refuse unlawful orders. The lawmakers, all of whom have prior military or national security experience, emphasized the importance of adhering to the Constitution and the need for service members to reject illegal directives.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump expressed his outrage, stating that the lawmakers’ remarks are "dangerous" and indicative of "seditious behavior." He further amplified his condemnation by sharing posts from other users that suggested extreme punitive measures against the lawmakers. One post suggested they should be hanged, while another called for their indictment.
The video from the lawmakers articulated concerns about trust in the military being undermined, asserting that threats to the Constitution can arise domestically. They stated, “You can refuse illegal orders,” emphasizing that service members are not obligated to execute directives that violate legal or constitutional standards. While the lawmakers did not specify what unlawful orders they were referencing, Slotkin has previously voiced apprehensions about the potential deployment of troops domestically in response to civil unrest.
The discussion touches on broader implications regarding military conduct and adherence to lawful orders, as mandated by the Code of Military Justice, which requires service members to obey lawful orders but allows for refusal of illegal ones.