President Donald Trump repeated his call for U.S. troops to obey him after six Democrats released a video urging U.S. military and intelligence personnel to defy illegal orders.
The six lawmakers, all with military or intelligence backgrounds, circulated a video online last month reminding service members that under U.S. law, they must disobey illegal orders and uphold the Constitution. The video sparked outrage on the right, who accused the lawmakers of urging troops to ignore orders in general from the president.
The group of lawmakers included Sens. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), a former CIA analyst, and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a former Navy pilot and astronaut. It also included Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO), an Army veteran; Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), a Navy veteran; and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), an Air Force veteran.
Trump initially responded forcefully, denouncing the video, calling the lawmakers “traitors,” and labeling their message “seditious.” He suggested their conduct could be “punishable by death.”
On Monday night, Trump doubled down.
"Mark Kelly and the group of Unpatriotic Politicians were WRONG to do what they did, and they know it! I hope the people looking at them are not duped into thinking that it’s OK to openly and freely get others to disobey the President of the United States!"