Trump accuses six Democratic national-security lawmakers of “sedition” after they urge troops to refuse illegal orders
President Trump lashed out Thursday at six Democratic lawmakers who released a video on social media this week urging service members to defy “illegal orders” by the administration.
“It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL,” Trump thundered on Truth Social Thursday morning.
“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.”
The president then reposted messages of support from users of his social media platform, including one who wrote in all caps: “Hang them George Washington would !!”
The 60-second video, titled “Don’t Give Up The Ship,” featured Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Reps. Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Rep. Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, and Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado.
We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community.
— Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) November 18, 2025
The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.
Don’t give up the ship. pic.twitter.com/N8lW0EpQ7r
“We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now. Americans trust their military, but that trust is at risk. This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens like us. You all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution,” the lawmakers said in the video released Tuesday.
“Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear,” they said. “You can refuse illegal orders … you must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.”
“This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country,” Trump added in a second Truth Social blast Thursday. “Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???”
“SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” a third post read.
All six Democrats come from military or national security backgrounds. Crow is an Army veteran who won a Bronze Star for his actions during the Iraq War. Deluzio and Kelly served in the Navy and Houlahan served in the Air Force, while Goodlander spent 11 years as an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve. Slotkin is a former CIA analyst who also worked in the State Department and Pentagon during the Obama administration.
“No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us,” the sextet fired back at Trump in a joint statement.
“What’s most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law,” they went on. “Every American must unite and condemn the President’s calls for our murder and political violence. This is a time for moral clarity. In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage.”
“We will continue to lead and will not be intimidated.”
The video did not criticize specific policies as “illegal orders,” nor did the lawmakers name Trump or War Secretary Pete Hegseth, who dismissed the video Tuesday as “Stage 4 TDS [Trump Derangement Syndrome]” in a post on X.
However, Slotkin last week introduced the No Troops in Our Streets Act, which would enable Congress to block or terminate National Guard deployments by majority vote.
Meanwhile, Crow on Tuesday introduced a war powers resolution to block the White House from conducting further strikes on suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific.
“In the briefings I’ve had on these strikes, I have yet to see a coherent strategy from this administration on their illegal actions,” Crow said in a statement Tuesday.
“After decades of overseas wars, trillions of dollars spent, and thousands of lives lost, the American people deserve a public debate and vote on military actions and putting our servicemembers in harm’s way.”
The three top House Democrats also denounced Trump’s tirade, saying they had contacted the House Sergeant at Arms and US Capitol Police “to ensure the safety of these Members and their families.”
“We unequivocally condemn Donald Trump’s disgusting and dangerous death threats against Members of Congress and call on House Republicans to forcefully do the same,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Dem Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) said in a joint statement.
“Donald Trump must immediately delete these unhinged social media posts and recant his violent rhetoric before he gets someone killed.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) similarly denounced Trump’s social media screed as “an outright threat.”
“It’s deadly serious,” Schumer warned on the Senate floor. “When Donald Trump uses the language of execution and treason, some of his supporters may very well listen.”
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) downplayed the president’s rhetoric and instead argued that the Democrats who made the video were out of line.
“Think of what a threat that is to our national security and what it means to our institutions,” Johnson told reporters Thursday. “We have got to raise the bar in Congress. This is out of control and wildly inappropriate.”
“[For] any member of Congress — in the House or Senate — to be engaged in that kind of talk, to me is just so beyond the pale.”
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