Donald Trump has criticized a group of Democratic lawmakers, accusing them of ‘seditious behavior’ following the release of a video directed at military service members.
On Tuesday, November 18, six Democratic lawmakers, including senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly, along with representatives Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, and Jason Crow, released a video that encouraged U.S. military personnel to disobey unlawful commands.
“Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this constitution,” they stated in the video. “And right now, the threats to our constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear, you can refuse illegal orders, you can refuse illegal orders, you must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our constitution.”
Jason Crow further commented on Fox News, saying: “We are standing by our troops, our service members who are often put in very difficult positions and Donald Trump has put them in very difficult positions and has alluded to putting them in even more difficult positions in the months and years ahead, so we are reminding folks about what the uniform code of military justice says, what the Constitution says, what the law of war says.”
The lawmakers did not clarify which specific illegal orders should be of concern.
In response, Trump expressed his outrage through his Truth Social platform, launching a strong critique.
Trump posted: “It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET.”
In another post, he added: “This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???”
The six lawmakers have since addressed Trump’s comments, emphasizing that no ‘call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation.’
The White House minimized the impact of the president’s remarks. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed claims that Trump was advocating for the execution of Democrats in Congress.
“Many in this room want to talk about the president’s response, but not what brought the president to responding in this way,” she explained.
“They are literally saying to 1.3 million active duty service members to defy the chain of command, not to follow lawful orders. It perhaps is punishable by law.”