House Dem urges servicemembers to uphold constitutional oath over Trump

Democrats and Republicans heard two very totally different conclusions when a bunch of Democratic lawmakers referred to as on U.S. army personnel to not perform sure orders in a video that went viral on social media Tuesday.

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., one of many lawmakers within the video, expressed annoyance with the best way critics framed the message.

“I am not telling individuals to disobey orders,” Houlahan stated Wednesday. “I’m extraordinarily annoyed by the best way this very wise video is being interpreted in a really insidious approach.”

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Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., is interrupted by Capitol Police as he questions Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., throughout a Home Republican press convention on the federal government shutdown on the steps of the Home of Representatives on the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name, Inc by way of Getty Photographs)

Houlahan, together with 5 different Democrats with army or intelligence expertise, had inspired service members to not perform illegal orders.

“The threats to our Structure come not simply from overseas, however from right here. Our legal guidelines are clear: You may refuse unlawful orders. You should refuse unlawful orders. Nobody has to hold out orders that violate the regulation or our Structure,” the lawmakers stated.

“Do not hand over ship,” the video added – a reference to a phrase utilized by the Navy.

Houlahan was joined by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., and Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-NH.

The video didn’t present an instance of what particular sorts of orders service brokers ought to refuse.

In a single separate message for XSlotkin hinted that troopers requested to hold out airstrikes off the coast of Venezuela could have been concerned in unlawful assaults and stated some pilots had expressed issues about their involvement.

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Republicans who responded to the exhortation derided it for instance of Democratic paranoia towards Trump.

“[It’s] Section 4 TDS,” stated Secretary of Struggle Pete Hegseth in a message to Xreferring to Trump derangement syndrome – a nickname for the Democratic fixation on the president.

Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth urged new officers to recollect what it felt prefer to be within the place of graduates and at all times have one another’s again. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs)

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., stated the decision sounded politically charged.

“Finally, they’re indignant that the American individuals voted for Trump and now they’re calling on the army and intelligence group to intervene. Sounds a bit ‘subversive to democracy,'” Schmitt stated.

When requested concerning the video, Sen. Jack Reed, D-RI, the rating member of the Senate Armed Companies Committee, stated he helps the exhortation in precept however famous that it’s generally tough to find out what’s permissible and what’s not.

“You may’t disobey the Structure,” Reed stated. “The issue, nonetheless, in a sensible sense, is that it’s usually very tough to decide.”

The Democrats who made the video believed the video stated that they had a really particular customary in thoughts.

When requested what sorts of orders army personnel should ignore, Crow, one of many lawmakers within the video, pointed to the Uniform Code of Army Justice (UCMJ).

“The objective is to remind individuals of their oath and their obligation to the Structure and their obligations underneath the UCMJ, that are very clear,” Crow stated.

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Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., leaves a Home Democratic Caucus assembly on President Joe Biden’s candidacy for the Democratic Nationwide Committee. ((Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name, Inc by way of Getty Photographs))

The UCMJ, which was handed by Congress in 1951, regulates a spread of issues for which troopers may be punished, starting from desertion to committing struggle crimes. The video that lawmakers posted Tuesday doesn’t point out the UCMJ by title.

Houlahan stated the code ought to clearly delineate what’s allowed and what’s not.

“Nicely, for instance, we aren’t supposed to make use of our army towards our personal residents. Interval. This is the reason the Uniform Code of Army Justice exists,” Houlahan stated.

She famous that there are methods for army personnel to enchantment orders they’re involved about.

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“You have got an obligation to know and respect your chain of command. Nevertheless, you do have a sequence of command that you may undergo, the place you’ll be able to elevate these requests if you happen to do not assume they’re lawful or acceptable, and that is what I encourage and my colleagues encourage individuals to do,” Houlahan stated.

The Struggle Division didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

— Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report