US EditionTrump floats death penalty for Democratic lawmakers urging military to ‘refuse illegal orders’
Trump labeled six Democratic veterans 'traitors' and demanded their arrest for urging troops to refuse illegal orders, calling it seditious behavior punishable by death.
- On Thursday, President Donald Trump labeled six Democratic lawmakers traitors, demanded they be arrested and tried, and invoked seditious conduct as punishable by death.
- The joint video urged military and intelligence personnel to refuse illegal orders and warned of threats to the Constitution, featuring Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Senator from Michigan, Sen. Mark Kelly, Senator from Arizona, and four House Democrats with military backgrounds.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the video `Stage 4 TDS` and likened the lawmakers to the "al Qaeda of the Western Hemisphere," while White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller urged their resignation and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche called for a federal investigation.
- Legal experts say prosecuting lawmakers is uncertain due to broad immunity and seditious-conspiracy charges last used after January 6, 2021, while the Uniform Code of Military Justice allows refusal of unlawful orders but permits court-martial for lawful ones.
- A group of more than 300 former national security officials, the 'Steady State,' supported the six lawmakers, while Capitol Hill Democrats and Sen. Chris Coons condemned execution calls as chilling and warned trust in the military is at risk.
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653 Articles
Just follow orders or obey the law? What US troops told us about refusing illegal commands
As the Trump administration carries out what many observers say are illegal military strikes against vessels in the Caribbean allegedly smuggling drugs, six Democratic members of Congress issued a video on Nov. 18, 2025, telling the military "You can refuse illegal orders" and "You must refuse illegal orders."
Trump Suggests Death Penalty for Legislators Who Urged US Soldiers to Disobey Extrajudicial Killing Orders in Caribbean
The United States is facing a new political storm after US President Donald Trump suggested that six veteran Democratic lawmakers should be executed for having publicly urged military and intelligence officials to disobey illegal orders that might be issued from the White House. The conflict erupted after six Democratic senators and Congress members—all with backgrounds in the CIA, Army, Navy, or Air Force—posted a video on social media remindin…
After having participated in the recording of a controversial video, Democrat Elissa Slotkin received a bomb threat at her home
Just Follow Orders or Obey the Law? What US Troops Told us About Refusing Illegal Commands
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Clarence Washington, a Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) security forces team leader. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nathanael Callon/Released) From The Conversation initially published on Aug. 13, 2025, has been updated to include a reference to a video issued by Democratic members of Congress. By: Charli Carpenter Professor of…
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