I’ve been listening closely to the elevated rhetoric surrounding the recent video recorded by Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D‑MI), former CIA officer; Sen. Mark Kelly (D‑AZ), former Navy captain and astronaut; Rep. Jason Crow (D‑CO), former Army Ranger; Rep. Chris Deluzio (D‑PA), Navy veteran; Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D‑NH), national security lawyer; and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D‑PA), Air Force veteran.
Anyone who has viewed the video knows its purpose: to remind military personnel of their oath to uphold the Constitution and their duty under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. That code makes clear that obedience is required only for lawful orders. An order that violates the Constitution, U.S. law, or international law is unlawful, and troops can be punished for carrying it out.
But that is not how Trump and his loyalists chose to portray the message. Trump himself called the video “seditious behavior, punishable by death” and labeled the six Democratic lawmakers “traitors” who should be arrested. Republican leadership echoed his framing, claiming the video undermined military discipline and might encourage troops to defy lawful orders. In recent days, Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Defense Secretary, even threatened to recall Senator Kelly to active duty so he could be court‑martialed, while the FBI has requested interviews with the Democratic participants.
The fact that veterans felt compelled to remind troops of their legal obligations is a sobering commentary on where America stands today. Our military has an honorable history. The Continental Army under George Washington secured independence from Britain. In the War of 1812, it defended U.S. sovereignty. From World War I through the War on Terror, the Armed Forces have been central to global security—helping secure Allied victory in two world wars, defending South Korea, engaging in Vietnam, expelling Iraqi forces from Kuwait in the Gulf War, and leading campaigns against al‑Qaeda, the Taliban, and ISIS after September 11. Beyond combat, the military has been indispensable in disaster relief at home and abroad.
More than half of the American public place their trust in our armed forces—men and women who are our relatives, neighbors, co‑workers, and friends. We are proud of who they are, what they do, and what they represent.
Yet the America I have known has grown darker under Trump. He has spent his life spewing lies, cheating those who worked for him, peddling scams, and exacting retribution on anyone who defies his will. His lust for power is unending. Would he use the military illegally? He already has—dispatching troops to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Portland, and other cities. He has authorized attacks on vessels off the coast of South America, resulting in more than 80 deaths, without providing acceptable legal justification or proof that those killed were drug smugglers.
Domestically, his words and actions reveal a clear willingness to use military force against American citizens.
- June 2020: Trump reportedly urged advisers to have troops or law enforcement “shoot protesters,” even suggesting aiming at their legs.
- 2020–2021: He began describing domestic opponents and protesters as the “enemy within,” framing dissent as treasonous and repeatedly suggesting the National Guard or military should be used against them.
- September 2025: At Marine Corps Base Quantico, Trump suggested U.S. cities like Chicago should be used as “training grounds” for the military, treating urban areas as battlefields.
- October–November 2025: Hegseth refused to rule out opening fire on protesters if ordered by Trump, raising alarm about potential unlawful orders being carried out.
We live in a time when nothing can be taken for granted. There should be no confusion in the ranks about the legality of an order, yet that is exactly where we find ourselves. The concerns voiced in the video are real, and the reminder to our troops is appropriate. In my estimation, Sen. Slotkin, Sen. Kelly, Rep. Crow, Rep. Deluzio, Rep. Goodlander, and Rep. Houlahan continue to honor their commitment to the Constitution and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. They are not traitors. They are defenders of the American people and of the Constitution they have sworn to protect.
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