Rep. Jason Crow and fellow Democrats who urged military personnel to defy orders are now being systematically targeted by Trump’s Defense Department, with Secretary Pete Hegseth censuring Senator Mark Kelly in what amounts to unprecedented political retaliation against sitting lawmakers.
Story Highlights
- Six Democratic veterans released video urging troops to refuse illegal orders, sparking Trump’s “punishable by DEATH” response
- Defense Secretary Hegseth censured Sen. Mark Kelly in January 2026 for participating in the November 2025 video
- Capitol Police received multiple threat complaints from targeted lawmakers after Trump amplified supporter calls for violence
- Pentagon officials rejected claims that any illegal orders were being issued to military personnel
Democrats’ Video Triggers Constitutional Crisis
Six Democratic lawmakers, all military veterans or intelligence professionals, released a 90-second video in November 2025 urging service members to uphold their constitutional oath and refuse illegal orders. Rep. Jason Crow, a former Army Ranger, joined Senator Elissa Slotkin, Senator Mark Kelly, and three House colleagues in the message posted during heightened concerns about National Guard deployments to American cities. The video invoked the War of 1812 phrase “Don’t give up the ship” while addressing service members described as being “under enormous stress.”
Trump Administration Responds with Death Threat Rhetoric
President Trump escalated the confrontation by posting on Truth Social that the Democrats engaged in “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!!” and declared their actions “punishable by DEATH.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called it “Stage 4 TDS” while White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller labeled it “insurrection” and a “call for rebellion” during Fox News appearances. The administration’s inflammatory response prompted at least three Democrats to file complaints with U.S. Capitol Police over death threats they received from Trump supporters.
Pentagon Rejects Illegal Order Claims
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell dismissed the Democrats’ concerns, stating that politicians were “out of their minds” and emphasizing that the military follows all legal orders. Military doctrine, codified in the Uniform Code of Military Justice and rooted in post-Nuremberg principles, requires service members to disobey illegal orders. However, no specific illegal orders were identified in the Democrats’ video, which addressed general concerns about National Guard deployments that courts had halted or pulled back in some instances.
Hegseth Retaliates with Unprecedented Censure
Over a month after the initial controversy, Defense Secretary Hegseth censured Senator Mark Kelly in early January 2026 for his participation in the video. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the action as “despicable political retribution,” marking an unprecedented move by a Defense Secretary against a sitting senator. The censure demonstrates the Trump administration’s willingness to use executive power against lawmakers who challenge military deployment decisions, raising serious questions about civilian oversight of the armed forces.
This escalating conflict represents a dangerous precedent where disagreement over military policy results in death threats and official retaliation. The Democrats’ reminder about constitutional obligations, standard military doctrine for decades, has been weaponized into accusations of sedition. Patriots should be deeply concerned about any administration that treats constitutional education as treasonous behavior while simultaneously threatening lawmakers with violence for exercising their oversight responsibilities.
Sources:
Trump says message from Jason Crow, other Democrats to military is sedition ‘punishable by DEATH’
Donald Trump says Democrats’ message to military about illegal orders is sedition
Democrats file Capitol Police complaint over Trump ‘sedition’ threats
Hegseth censures Kelly after Democrats’ video warning about following unlawful orders
