Democrat Video Urging Military Personnel to ‘Refuse Illegal Orders’ Sparks Strong Republican Pushback

A Democrat video urging military personnel to “refuse illegal orders” has sparked widespread backlash from top Republican officials, who view it as an incitement to insubordination or even insurrection against President Donald Trump and his Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

“Democrat lawmakers are now openly calling for insurrection,” Stephen Miller, a senior adviser to the president, posted on X in reaction to the disturbing video.

Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) released the short video titled “Don’t Give Up the Ship” on Tuesday, featuring herself and five other Democrat lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds advising members of the military and intelligence community to disobey their commander-in-chief’s orders if they believe they are “illegal.”

The Democrat lawmakers in the viral video are Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.),  Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), and Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.).

“Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right from right here at home,” says Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), a former Navy officer.

“You can refuse illegal orders,” several of the lawmakers stress.  “You must refuse illegal orders.”

“No one has to carry out illegal orders that violate the law,” Slotkin insists.

Nowhere in the minute and a half video do the Democrat lawmakers specify which presidential orders they believe are illegal, apparently leaving that up to their fellow travelers in the military and Intelligence Community to determine.

However, as Fox News points out, Slotkin and her colleagues have recently introduced legislation to limit President Trump’s ability to deploy National Guard members domestically or launch military action against narcoterrorists without congressional approval.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Fox News’ Sean Hannity Tuesday evening that he would be sending the six Democrats a letter on Wednesday demanding to know which presidential orders they believe are illegal.

“They owe it to our men and women in the military to be specific about orders issued by President Trump or those under his command that they believe to be unlawful,”  Graham posted on X. 

“Ten years after the Deep State Russia Hoax, top Democrats openly appeal to CIA and military officials to engage in rebellion against their Commander-in-Chief,” Miller posted on X Wednesday. “Do not underestimate how dangerously radicalized the Democrat party has become.”

Hegseth blasted the lawmakers for having “Stage 4 TDS” (Trump Derangement Syndrome), accusing them of undermining chain-of-command and sowing division in the ranks. He called it an “irresponsible” attempt to politicize the military, as service members already know the law on lawful orders.

Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) told Fox News that the Democrats’ video boils down to “they’re mad the American people chose Trump and now they’re calling on the Military and Intelligence Community to intervene. Sounds a little ‘subversive to democracy’-ish.”

Former Green Beret John Frankman accused the Democrats’ of having a double standard regarding “illegal orders.”

“When I was a Special Forces Captain, I refused the unlawful order to receive an experimental shot and was forced out of the Army for it,” Frankman posted on X. “Where do Democrats get off putting out shit like this?”

Update:

Miller doubled down Wednesday on his contention that the Democrat lawmakers are calling for members of the military and Intelligence Community to mount an insurrection against President Trump.

“These lawmakers should honestly resign in disgrace and never return to public office again for daring to think, let alone say these words, and to say them proudly,” Miller told Fox News’ Will Cain Wednesday evening, adding that their inflammatory behavior “shows what a dangerous moment” the country is in.

“We have seen the Democratic party nurse the flames of violence and insurrection against the federal government for the last ten months, he said, arguing that the Democrats’ radical rhetoric has spurred “a continuous campaign of violence against ICE officers and Border Patrol agents,” with “Democrat sanctuary politicians and Democrat sanctuary governors” siding with the rioters over federal law enforcement.