Trump Accuses Lawmakers Who Called for US Troops to Defy ‘Illegal Orders’ of Seditious Behavior

The president’s remarks follow the release of a video by Democratic lawmakers calling on troops to disregard orders.

President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House on Nov. 17, 2025. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump sharply criticized six Democratic lawmakers who released a video urging U.S. service members to defy what they called “ïllegal orders,” accusing the group of seditious behavior warranting a sedition trial and severe punishment.

In a pair of Truth Social posts on Nov. 20, Trump blasted what he called “dangerous” rhetoric from the six Democrats—all of them military or intelligence veterans—and suggested their possible arrest.

“This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand,” Trump wrote. “Seditious behavior from traitors!!! Lock them up???”

Some time later, Trump posted again, writing: “Seditious behavior, punishable by death!”

The comments came after Trump shared a news article describing the lawmakers’ video, which has circulated widely online since its release this week.

The Democrats’ Video

The video—featuring Sens. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Reps. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.)—states that “threats to our Constitution” are coming “from right here at home.”

All six serve on committees overseeing national security, and several are former CIA officers or members of the military. In the clip, they urge service members and intelligence personnel to “refuse illegal orders,” while emphasizing their oath to defend the Constitution rather than any individual leader.

The video does not identify what specific orders they believe may be unlawful or how service members should respond if confronted with one.

Slotkin, a former CIA analyst who shared the video on social media, said in a statement: “We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community. The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution. Don’t give up the ship.”

She posted the video several days after introducing legislation titled “No Troops in Our Streets Act,” which would expand Congress’s ability to block presidential orders deploying the National Guard domestically. Trump’s deployment of Guard forces to Los Angeles, Portland, and Chicago this summer has produced mixed reactions and significant resistance from Democratic leaders across the country.

The video drew swift condemnation from Trump allies, who accused the lawmakers of undermining civilian control of the military.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Nov. 19 that the Justice Department would be taking a “very close look” at those lawmakers’ actions, calling it a “disgusting and inappropriate display of supposed leadership from the Democrat Party.”

Blanche said that there is “nothing illegal” about the Trump administration’s actions, while comparing the Democrats’ video to propaganda concocted by enemies of the United States in a bid to turn U.S. service members into spies working to undermine America’s national security.

Trump adviser Stephen Miller accused Democrats of encouraging CIA and military members to “engage in rebellion,” alleging that the video shows “how dangerously radicalized the Democrat party has become.” In a separate social media post, Miller alleged the six lawmakers were “openly calling for insurrection.”

Slotkin defended the video in a response to Miller’s remarks.

“This is the law,” she wrote on Facebook. “Passed down from our Founding Fathers, to ensure our military upholds its oath to the Constitution—not a king. Given Stephen Miller is directing much of a military policy, he should buff up on the Uniform Code of Military Justice.”

The Epoch Times has reached out to the White House and to the offices of the lawmakers with requests for comment.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to a question about the matter at a briefing on Thursday, telling reporters that Trump does not want to execute the Democratic lawmakers, but only for them to follow the law and be accountable for their “dangerous rhetoric.”

“The sanctity of our military rests on the chain of command, and if that chain of command is broken, it can lead to people getting killed,” Leavitt said.

“It can lead to chaos, and that’s what these members of Congress who swore an oath to to abide by the Constitution are essentially encouraging.”

Leavitt added that if the 1.3 million U.S. service members in active duty hear the lawmakers’ “radical message,” it could “inspire chaos and it could incite violence and it certainly could disrupt the chain of command.”

The six lawmakers responded with a joint statement sent to The Epoch Times by email, in which they described Trump’s remarks as an attempt at threat and intimidation meant to deter them from defending the Constitution.

“What’s most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law,” they said.

“Our servicemembers should know that we have their backs as they fulfill their oath to the Constitution and obligation to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our duty.”

The lawmakers added that they don’t view the issue as being “about politics,” or any one of them personally or their political careers.

“This is about who we are as Americans,” they said. “Every American must unite and condemn the President’s calls for our murder and political violence.”

They said they “will not be intimidated.”