Trump says Dems who told military to defy illegal orders committed ‘sedition at the highest level’
In a recent escalation of political rhetoric, former President Donald Trump accused Democratic lawmakers of engaging in “sedition at the highest level” after they encouraged military personnel to defy unlawful orders. This statement was sparked by a video featuring Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin and other Democratic officials, who emphasized the importance of adhering to constitutional obligations over illegal commands. In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump labeled these lawmakers as “traitors” and suggested they should face imprisonment, even hinting at extreme consequences, including execution. His comments have drawn significant backlash, particularly following a bomb threat directed at Slotkin’s home just days after the video was released, raising concerns about the safety of public officials amidst such incendiary rhetoric.
The video, which included other military veterans in Congress, highlighted the responsibility of service members to refuse illegal orders, a principle grounded in military ethics and law. Slotkin, who has a background in national security, stated, “You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders,” asserting that threats to the Constitution can emerge from within the country as well as from external sources. Following Trump’s remarks, which many interpreted as inciting violence, Slotkin’s office confirmed that she received a bomb threat, prompting increased security measures around her residence. In response to the alarming situation, Slotkin remarked, “If the president is saying you should be hanged, then we shouldn’t be surprised when folks on the ground are going to follow suit and say even worse.”
Despite the threats, Slotkin and her colleagues remain resolute, affirming their commitment to uphold the law and protect the Constitution. They emphasized that their call for military personnel to act lawfully is not only their right but a fundamental duty. In a joint statement, they expressed their determination to continue leading without fear, stating, “In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage.” The situation underscores the growing tension in American political discourse, where the line between legitimate political debate and incitement to violence becomes increasingly blurred, raising important questions about the responsibilities of public figures in their rhetoric and the implications for national security and democratic integrity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSKHXTwgdHM
President
Donald Trump
on Saturday purported that Democrats who urged the military to defy illegal orders engaged in “sedition at the highest level” and “should be in jail right now.”
This comes after one of the lawmakers who appeared in the video calling on troops to ignore unlawful orders, Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, was targeted with a bomb threat just days after the clip and Trump’s subsequent statements suggesting the Democrats be executed.
In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump argued that the “traitors” who appeared in the video “should be in jail right now, not roaming the fake news networks trying to explain what they said was OK.”
“It wasn’t, and never will be!” he claimed. “It was sedition at the highest level, and sedition is a major crime. There can be no other interpretation of what they said!”
SEN. SLOTKIN’S HOME TARGETED WITH BOMB THREAT DAYS AFTER SHE TOLD TROOPS TO DEFY ‘ILLEGAL’ ORDERS
Trump initially responded to the video message by saying, “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” He also shared a post from another account that said, “Hang them George Washington would.”
The White House and the president himself later attempted to walk back his comments, saying he did not wish to execute the Democrat lawmakers.
In another post on Saturday, Trump alleged that “many great legal scholars” agree with his position that “the Democrat traitors that told the military to disobey my orders, as president, have committed a crime of serious proportion!”
Slotkin, who previously worked at the CIA and Defense Department, shared the video on Tuesday of herself and other Democrat lawmakers who formerly served in the military and intelligence community encouraging troops and members of the intelligence community to ignore illegal orders from officials.
“This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens,” the lawmakers said. “Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats coming to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad but from right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.”
SEN. JOHN FETTERMAN ACCUSES TRUMP OF ‘DANGEROUS RHETORIC’
Other lawmakers in the video included Sen.
Mark Kelly
of Arizona and Reps. Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, as well as Reps. Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Jason Crow of Colorado.
Trump administration officials and other Republicans criticized the video, which affirms that refusing unlawful orders is a standard part of military protocol.
Slotkin’s office said on Friday that police responded to her Michigan home following a bomb threat, but that she was not home at the time.
U.S. Capitol Police told her that she would have security at all hours of the day.
“We’ve got law enforcement out in front of my house,” she told MS Now. “It changes things immediately. And leadership climate is set from the top. And if the president is saying you should be hanged, then we shouldn’t be surprised when folks on the ground are going to follow suit and say even worse.”
The lawmakers in the video have vowed not to back down despite the threats.
“What’s most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law. Our servicemembers should know that we have their backs as they fulfill their
oath to the Constitution
and obligation to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our duty,” they said in a joint statement on Thursday.
“In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage. We will continue to lead and will not be intimidated,” the statement added.
