Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan has stirred up controversy with her comments on President Trump’s military orders during a recent appearance on ABC’s “This Week.” Slotkin, a Democrat and former CIA officer, acknowledged she is “not aware” of any illegal commands from the president, despite defending a video that encourages military personnel to refuse unlawful orders. This video features a lineup of six Democratic lawmakers with military or intelligence backgrounds, telling service members, “Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.”
The video was posted this Tuesday and has amassed nearly 17 million views on X. It suggests an urgent message directed at military members to prioritize legality over orders they might receive. However, when pressed by ABC host Martha Raddatz about any directly issued illegal orders by Trump, Slotkin’s response was carefully measured. “To my knowledge, I am not aware of things that are illegal,” she stated. Yet she hinted at what she described as “legal gymnastics” surrounding U.S. military actions in the Caribbean and Venezuela.
This remark did not sit well with proponents of the Trump administration, prompting them to characterize the video and its suggestions as “unnerving” and “unconscionable.” Critics argued that the video points to an unfounded call for military insubordination without specific examples to back it up. In response, President Trump took to Truth Social, declaring such actions as “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR” and calling for severe repercussions. He proclaimed that this act could even be “punishable by DEATH,” implying necessary accountability for lawmakers suggesting military personnel defy the president.
In a follow-up interview on Fox News Radio, Trump clarified that he was not threatening the lawmakers involved but did highlight the historical weight of sedition. “In the old days, if you said a thing like that, that was punishable by death,” he said, underlining his belief that their actions represent serious misconduct. He described the Democratic lawmakers involved as “bad people” and noted that had the situation been reversed—where he had made similar statements about a Democratic president—there would have been a media uproar.
Vice President JD Vance backed Trump, asserting that if no illegal orders were issued by the president, then the actions of Congress telling the military to disregard the commander-in-chief were indeed illegal. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took a firm stance as well, labeling the lawmakers the “Seditious Six” and confirming that the Pentagon is reviewing the actions of Senator Mark Kelly, who remains subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice as a retired Navy Commander.
The six Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Slotkin and Mark Kelly along with Representatives Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, and Chrissy Houlahan, responded collectively. They found it revealing that Trump suggested executing public officials for restating existing law, reaffirming their commitment not to be intimidated by these remarks.
In sharp contrast to Trump’s comments, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the former president’s posts. He accused Trump of explicitly calling “for the execution of elected officials.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries labeled the comments as “disgusting and dangerous,” focusing on the fierce implications of such rhetoric.
Slotkin’s admission that she could not cite any actual illegal orders lays bare the complicated and often divisive climate surrounding military and political discourse. Even as she called for adherence to lawful commands, the backlash surrounding her statements highlights the high stakes and intense emotions enveloping military loyalty, legality, and political accountability amid an increasingly polarized atmosphere.
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