Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
President Donald Trump escalated political tensions on Thursday by accusing six Democratic lawmakers of engaging in “sedition” and saying their actions were “punishable by death,” after the group released a video urging U.S. service members to uphold the Constitution and refuse unlawful commands. The lawmakers all military or intelligence veterans, recorded the message amid rising concerns over attempts by the administration to deploy military forces domestically.
The 90-second video, posted Tuesday from Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s account, features Slotkin along with Sen. Mark Kelly and Representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander and Chrissy Houlahan. The lawmakers describe themselves and their service backgrounds before delivering a direct appeal to active-duty military personnel. They warn that the administration is “pitting our uniformed military against American citizens” and encourage troops to refuse orders that violate the law. Slotkin framed the video as a call for the military to adhere to constitutional obligations during a period she described as marked by “enormous stress and pressure.”
The message comes as the administration has continued exploring expanded domestic military deployments, including efforts to send National Guard units into U.S. cities, some of which have been blocked in court or pulled back amid legal and political challenges.
Military experts note that U.S. service members are required to disobey unlawful orders, though the responsibility typically falls more heavily on commanders, who have access to legal counsel. Rank-and-file troops often carry out orders without the same resources available for making rapid legal judgments in complex situations. The Uniform Code of Military Justice makes clear that troops may be criminally liable for following unlawful commands while simultaneously punishing members who knowingly disobey lawful orders.
Trump’s reaction to the video was immediate and incendiary. On Thursday he reposted several comments criticizing the lawmakers and added his own denunciation, calling their behavior “really bad, and Dangerous to our Country.” He labeled them “traitors,” asked if they should be “locked up,” and claimed their message constituted “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH.” He also shared posts from supporters, including one that declared, “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!”
Asked about Trump’s remarks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt argued instead that the lawmakers’ message was itself potentially unlawful, framing it as encouragement to “defy the chain of command.” She said the administration believed the video was “dangerous” and that the lawmakers should be held accountable.
Democratic leaders responded quickly. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned that Trump was “lighting a match in a country soaked with political gasoline,” accusing him of using the power of the presidency to inflame distrust within the military.
Republican leaders offered a mixed response. Speaker Mike Johnson said he did not believe Trump was calling for violence, insisting the president was merely “defining a crime.” Johnson nevertheless criticized the Democrats’ video as “wildly inappropriate,” arguing that it undermined national security.
Inside the administration, aides echoed Trump’s view. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller called the lawmakers’ message “insurrection” during a Fox News segment, describing it as a call for rebellion by members of Congress with ties to the intelligence and military communities. On social media, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed the video as a symptom of “Stage 4 TDS”, shorthand for “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
Outside experts offered a sharply different interpretation. The Steady State, a network of former national security officials, wrote that the lawmakers’ statement was simply a reaffirmation of long-standing military doctrine requiring refusal of illegal orders. “This is not a political opinion,” the group said. “It is doctrine.”
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell rejected the idea that illegal orders were being issued by the administration, telling the Associated Press that “our civilians give legal orders” and calling the lawmakers’ warnings unfounded.
The confrontation reflects deepening political tensions between the administration and critics concerned about the use of military power on U.S. soil. As the debate intensifies, both sides are framing their positions as essential to protecting the Constitution, leaving service members caught in the middle of an increasingly volatile national argument over the limits of military obedience in a polarized era.
