President Donald Trump has called for the arrest of several Democratic lawmakers following the release of a video in which they urge U.S. military and intelligence personnel to disobey orders they consider illegal. The former president described their actions as "seditious" and a threat to national security. "Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand — We won't have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET," Trump stated emphatically on Truth Social.
The 90-second video, entitled "Don't Give Up the Ship," features Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), as well as Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), all of whom have military or intelligence backgrounds. In the clip, they stress that service members and intelligence officials must prioritize their oaths to the Constitution above potentially unlawful directives. "We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now. Americans trust their military, but that trust is at risk," the lawmakers stated, according to OANN. "You can refuse illegal orders…you must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our constitution."
The video comes in the context of past concerns regarding Trump administration proposals during 2020's domestic protests, including the potential deployment of troops in U.S. cities and directives for forceful crowd control. Slotkin also promoted her "No Troops in Our Streets Act," a piece of legislation aimed at giving Congress the authority to halt domestic military operations and provide additional funding for civilian law enforcement.
The message has been met with swift criticism from conservative commentators. War Secretary Pete Hegseth referred to it as "Stage 4 TDS," while social media users have labeled the lawmakers' statements as encouraging treason. Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt (R) warned that the message appeared "subversive to democracy."
The backdrop of the lawmakers' warnings includes recent U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean targeting drug-trafficking vessels from Venezuela and Colombia. Since September, these operations have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 80 suspected smugglers, as reported by The Washington Post. Democrats have raised concerns over the potential legal liability for service members involved in such strikes, prompting the Department of Justice to clarify that personnel cannot be criminally prosecuted for actions taken during armed conflicts with cartels.
The video frames the discussion as a constitutional obligation rather than a political statement. Crow, Deluzio, and Slotkin repeatedly emphasized that threats to the Constitution can emerge domestically, not only abroad, highlighting the duty of uniformed personnel to uphold the law in all circumstances. The lawmakers do not explicitly encourage illegal behavior or violent action. However, their messaging has triggered sharp criticism from the Trump administration and conservative commentators, who interpret it as a direct challenge to lawful authority within the military and intelligence communities.
The video concludes with the repeated phrase, "Don't give up the ship," a historical reference to military resolve. By combining personal military experience with warnings about potential unlawful orders, the lawmakers aim to inform service members of their constitutional responsibilities. As debate intensifies over the boundaries of civilian-military authority, the video underscores the tension between legal obligations, political disagreements, and public perception of national security. Officials and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle continue to weigh the implications of urging troops and intelligence officials to navigate potential conflicts between orders and constitutional duties.
