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A group of Democratic lawmakers released a short, urgent-seeming video this week telling members of the military and intelligence community that “you can refuse illegal orders” and insisting “you must refuse illegal orders,” a message that immediately set off alarm bells for anyone who values discipline in our armed forces. The clip was posted by senators and representatives who lean on their past service and intelligence credentials to lend weight to a political message about the current administration.
The participants — including Senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly and Representatives Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, and Jason Crow — introduced themselves with military or intelligence pedigrees and framed their remarks as a constitutional duty rather than partisan advice. The video offers no concrete examples of which commands would qualify as “illegal,” yet it repeats the call to refuse orders in a way that could be read as an invitation to defy lawful authority.
Legal experts and former military lawyers were quick to point out the real consequences of that kind of messaging: troops who disobey orders face court-martial, loss of rank and pay, and even prison time unless they can prove an order was manifestly unlawful — a very high standard. The Uniform Code of Military Justice and military precedent make clear that choosing to disobey based on a political slogan is a gamble with lives, careers, and unit cohesion.
The political fallout escalated when President Trump blasted the lawmakers on social media, calling for arrests and using inflammatory language that alarmed civil libertarians across the spectrum; mainstream outlets reported the exchange and the outrage it provoked from both sides. This is the combustible mix conservatives warned about: a partisan provocation from Democrats, and a president who answers with maximum rhetoric, turning a bad idea into a national crisis.
Let’s be blunt: using military credentials to deliver a vague invitation to disobey the chain of command is reckless and unpatriotic. The left’s tactic here isn’t a thoughtful debate about the law; it’s political theater aimed at undermining trust in our institutions and sowing confusion among those who put their lives on the line for the rest of us. Conservatives should be the first to defend our soldiers from being dragged into partisan stunts.
Washington must step up and protect the military from being weaponized by either side. If there are genuine legal concerns about specific orders, the proper channels exist — whistleblower procedures, inspectors general, and the courts — not 60-second viral clips that leave troops guessing. The Justice Department and congressional leaders should ensure this episode doesn’t become a dangerous precedent for politicizing obedience and discipline.
Americans who believe in law, order, and the security of our republic should be furious that career reputations and the crucial principle of civilian control of the military are being gambled for short-term political points. We owe our troops clarity, not rhetoric; leadership, not lectures; and the unambiguous protection of the chain of command that keeps our nation safe. If Democrats want to debate policy, have the courage to do it in Congress — don’t play with the lives of our service members.
