Washington D.C. – A group of Democratic lawmakers has ignited a firestorm of controversy after publicly suggesting that members of the U.S. military and intelligence community should refuse to carry out what they deem to be “unlawful orders” from the Trump administration.
The call to action, made in a video released Tuesday, featured six prominent Democrats with backgrounds in the military and intelligence sectors. The lawmakers, including Senator Mark Kelly, a former Navy pilot and astronaut, and Senator Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA operative who served in Iraq, argued that the current administration poses a threat to the Constitution from within.
“Today, the threats to our Constitution come not just from abroad, but also from right here at home,” the lawmakers stated in the video. “You can refuse unlawful orders.”
While the lawmakers did not specify which orders they were referring to, the Trump administration has faced criticism for its use of military force both within the United States and abroad.
The White House swiftly condemned the Democrats’ remarks. Stephen Miller, a senior White House aide, accused the Democrats of explicitly calling for the CIA and military officers to “rebel against their commander-in-chief.” Miller added: “Do not underestimate how dangerously radical the Democratic Party has become.”
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also denounced the video, claiming that the participating Democrats were suffering from “Stage Four Trump Derangement Syndrome,” a phrase often used by conservatives to mock opponents of the President.
The controversy comes as President Trump has deployed the National Guard to several cities led by Democratic mayors, including Los Angeles and Washington D.C., citing rising crime rates as justification, despite objections from local authorities.
The United States has also recently conducted approximately 20 strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific, targeting vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking. These actions, and others, are likely at the heart of the Democrats’ concerns regarding the legality of certain directives.
