Dems fine firing troops over Biden’s vax order but furious over Trump ‘treason’ talk, GOP vet says
In a recent controversy, a group of Democratic veterans in Congress released a video addressing U.S. servicemembers, encouraging them to refuse unlawful orders, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers and military veterans. The video features Senators Mark Kelly (AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (MI), along with Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (PA), Chris Deluzio (PA), Jason Crow (CO), and Maggie Goodlander (NH). Their message, ostensibly aimed at orders from former President Donald Trump, has been labeled as hypocritical by critics like Jennifer-Ruth Green, an Iraq War veteran and Republican candidate for Congress. Green highlighted the irony of the situation, pointing out that the Biden administration discharged approximately 8,700 servicemembers for refusing to comply with COVID-19 vaccine mandates, which many considered unlawful. She argued that Democrats were silent on those firings while now advocating for servicemembers to reject orders they deem illegal.
The backlash intensified as Republican leaders, including Green and Rep. Byron Donalds (FL), accused their Democratic counterparts of engaging in “seditious behavior” by implying that servicemembers should disobey orders from the President. Green specifically called out Senator Kelly for his contradictory stance, questioning the wisdom of instructing military personnel to disobey orders based on personal feelings about legality. Kelly defended his position by stating that servicemembers always have the right to consult with their commanding officers or legal advisors, but critics argue that this kind of messaging could lead to dangerous consequences within the military. The Kansas Republican Party also joined the fray, condemning the Democrats for their perceived hypocrisy in supporting vaccine mandates while now promoting the idea of resisting orders.
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Democrats and Republicans regarding military policies and leadership. The Pentagon’s previous discharges under Biden’s administration are being juxtaposed with the current Democratic call to resist orders, creating a narrative of inconsistency that Republicans are eager to exploit. As the debate continues, the implications of this video and the responses from both sides raise questions about the role of political influence in military service and the responsibilities of servicemembers when confronted with orders from their superiors. With the political landscape becoming increasingly polarized, this issue serves as a flashpoint for broader discussions about military ethics, political loyalty, and the rights of servicemembers in a democracy.
Democratic veterans in Congress who released a video telling servicemembers they can refuse unlawful orders were ripped by Republicans, including by an Air Force veteran who pointed out how former President
Joe Biden
’s Pentagon discharged 8,700 servicemembers for refusing vaccine mandates.
Sens.
Mark Kelly
of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, along with Reps. Chrissy Houlahan and Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Jason Crow of Colorado and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire appeared in a video that informed servicemembers they could refuse unlawful orders, ostensibly from President
Donald Trump
.
Jennifer-Ruth Green, an Iraq War Air Force veteran and former Indiana state official running in her second attempt to oust Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Ind., slammed her fellow veterans in the video as highly hypocritical. Green is a Republican.
“I just want to point out that the thousands of service members who refused the ‘illegal order’ from Joe Biden that forced them to get the COVID vaccine were fired without their benefits and Democrats were perfectly okay with it,” Ruth-Green
said on X
.
GRAHAM DEMANDS DEMOCRATS EXPLAIN ‘REFUSE ILLEGAL ORDERS’ MESSAGE TO TROOPS
She followed up by singling-out Kelly – a retired astronaut and Navy combat pilot – after he appeared with former Rep.
Joe Scarborough
, R-Fla., longtime host of “Morning Joe” on
MS-NOW
.
“First, Senator Kelly instructed our military to refuse the president’s orders. Now, he says they should contact their officers if they ‘feel’ an order is illegal,” Green said.
“Stop playing political games with our service members. An order is not illegal just because a politician doesn’t like it.”
TROOPS RISK COURT-MARTIAL IF THEY FOLLOW DEMOCRATS’ ‘ILLEGAL ORDERS’ ADVICE, FORMER MILITARY LAWYERS WARN
After Scarborough had said servicemembers would be “violating their oath” if they followed
illegal orders
, Kelly replied that they always have the ability to speak with their commanding officer about an order in question.
Kelly said concerned servicemembers can also confer with the Judge Advocate General (JAG) corps; lawyers within the military; on the legality of orders and similar concerns.
About 8,700 servicemembers were affected by then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s order, according to UPI, which reported that Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in April those discharged would be invited to return to duty.
DEM VETERANS BREAK SILENCE AFTER VIRAL VIDEO CAUSES BACKLASH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ‘FRUSTRATED’
In 2002, Green engineered the closest race for Republicans in the district – covering Democrat-heavy Gary and East Chicago, Ind. — in several decades; losing by six points.
The
Kansas Republican Party
echoed Green’s sentiments, saying in a statement that “Democrats ‘reminding’ servicemembers members they are allowed to disobey illegal orders with a wink and a nod had no problem forcing those same service members to take the COVID shot and follow orders that supposedly came from a president already exhibiting symptoms of dementia.”
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., was similarly critical of Democrats’ later response to President Donald Trump’s warning of treason that had led to what Slotkin and others said were threats against them in the aftermath.
SIX DEMOCRATS URGE MILITARY MEMBERS TO ‘REFUSE ILLEGAL ORDERS’ IN VIRAL VIDEO; HEGSETH RESPONDS
“They have engaged in
seditious behavior
,” Donalds said.
“That mess you heard over there about not being intimidated? No, the seditious behavior came from them when they launched their stupid video that nobody asked for.”
“Mister Crow and
Senator Slotkin
[are] not the commander-in-chief,” he later added.
DANGEROUS WAR GAMES: TELLING SERVICEMEMBERS TO RESIST TRUMP INVITES PURE CHAOS
Deluzio said that after Trump “called for the arrest and death of me and several of my colleagues” he was “not going to be intimidated” and would continue serving the Allegheny Valley.
When Trump adviser Stephen Miller fired back at Democrats’ statements, Kelly responded directly, saying he had been shot at in combat and was at the Capitol when “your boss sent a
violent mob
.”
“I know the difference between defending our Constitution and an insurrection, even if you don’t.”
Crow said on social media that it was “telling” to see Trump believe ”
restat[ing] the law
” is “punishable by death.”
On Monday, the
Pentagon announced it was investigating
“Capt. Mark Kelly” for allegations of serious misconduct.
Fox News Digital reached out to Kelly, Slotkin and Houlahan for additional comment.
