Six Democratic members of Congress — all with military or intelligence backgrounds — released a short video this week telling service members they can and must refuse unlawful orders, a message that immediately ignited outrage across the nation and on Capitol Hill. The clip, roughly 90 seconds long, urged troops to uphold the Constitution rather than carry out commands that violate the law, and it was framed by critics as an unprecedented political intervention into military affairs.
President Trump responded with fury, labeling the lawmakers’ actions “seditious behavior” on social media and even reposting material that called for their arrest, language that sent shockwaves through the political landscape. His blunt reaction — which included a provocative post saying the conduct was “punishable by DEATH” before later attempting to soften the tone — underscored just how high the stakes are when elected officials speak directly to those in uniform.
The Pentagon has moved to examine the matter, announcing a review into at least one senator’s conduct because of his lingering military status, while other participants fall outside the direct reach of military justice. That response from Defense Department leaders is appropriate: when former service members or officials use their past ranks and positions to lend apparent authority to a political message aimed at active-duty personnel, the chain of command and public trust are put at risk.
Let’s be clear — urging troops to ignore orders is not a harmless civics lecture; it is a reckless politicization of our military that plays directly into the hands of our adversaries. Democrats who filmed and promoted this stunt did so not out of sober legal concern but to inflame their base and score partisan points by undermining the cohesion that keeps our armed forces effective. Conservatives must call out that cynical theater for what it is: dangerous, unnecessary, and unpatriotic.
Even some conservative commentators and strategists have noted the performative element of the Democrats’ message, arguing the stunt was tailor-made to satisfy a radical faction of their party rather than address any specific, documented abuse of presidential authority. That political calculation may win applause on cable news and social feeds, but it does nothing to strengthen national security or protect the troops who deserve clear, lawful direction from civilian leadership.
Republicans and the American people should demand real accountability, not winks and platitudes. If elected officials — especially those who still claim to wear the mantle of service — use their credentials to incite insubordination, there must be consequences that preserve the integrity of the chain of command and deter future weaponization of our military for partisan ends. The Pentagon’s review is a start; Congress should follow with hearings to get answers and restore confidence.
This moment is a test for every patriot who believes in lawful authority, orderly government, and the brave men and women who answer our nation’s call. Conservatives must stand firmly with the troops, defend the Constitution against all threats, and refuse to let political grandstanding erode the institutions that protect American liberty.
