There was a time when disagreements with the president led to thoughtful public rebuttal or proposed legislation. But that time, it seems, is past. Rather, Americans were recently treated to a video screed by six Democrats from Congress encouraging members of the military to disobey orders. What’s worse, these legislators are also former military and intelligence community members.
The Push for Military Disobedience to Trump
Democrats were still reeling from the government shutdown when a video emerged with Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), and Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) all encouraging military members to disobey unlawful orders. But make no mistake: Though they made no direct reference to specific orders, they were clearly talking about the commands of President Donald Trump.
Equally obvious was the unsaid definition of “unlawful” being any future orders from the commander-in-chief with whom these lawmakers disagree. Their Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) was on full display. As Cully Stimson, a 39-year veteran of the military Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, wrote for The Daily Signal: “Throughout the short video, they never mention a single Trump administration order—or even a policy area—which they believe violates the Constitution. This vagueness reveals the real purpose of the video—political theater and yet another example of Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
It didn’t take long for a reaction to the video to emerge. President Trump did not mince words. He labeled the Democrats’ film for exactly what it was. Trump posted on Truth Social: “It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET. President DJT.” Though the President’s words are hyperbolic, the sentiment is right on the mark.
The producers of the video do not attempt to identify specific unlawful orders. The military operates under a time-honored principle that all US armed forces members recite. Their oath of allegiance is to the Constitution, and they are obligated to follow lawful orders. It is a high standard that does not allow military members to pick and choose which orders they will follow, though that’s what the TDS-infected six seem to be encouraging. The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) already establishes the obligation for military members to disobey obviously illegal orders, and it provides mechanisms and recourse: There are assigned Judge Advocates General (JAGs) to resolve the rare cases where the legality of an order is in question.
Again, from Stimson:
“The President doesn’t pick up the phone and call a service member and order him to carry out a mission. Military orders flow through multiple levels—from the President to the secretary of defense, through the joint chiefs, to combatant commanders, to senior officers and eventually to units and individual service members. At each level, uniformed lawyers review orders and establish standing rules of engagement and specific rules of engagement for a particular mission. These congressmen know this, but that apparently didn’t matter to them.”
It is unreasonable to put the responsibility for determining the legality of an order on the individual soldier during combat. Orders are disseminated and passed down the hierarchical chain of command. There are seldom, if any, occasions when, in the heat of the battle, a soldier in the foxhole has a JAG officer readily available. The TDS-Six are issuing an unspecified call to action for soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Guardians to start second-guessing every command and order they receive.
Fellow Legislators React
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) told Fox News: “It is inconceivable that you would have elected officials that are saying to uniformed members of the military who have taken an oath to protect and defend that they would defy the orders they have been given to execute their mission.” Unfortunately, in Washington, DC, the TDS-Six have proven that the inconceivable is conceivable.
When American families trust their husbands, wives, sons, and daughters to the care of the US military, they want assurance that they will be treated with respect. This video does not do that. It winds down with the admonition “Your vigilance is critical” – be on the lookout for unlawful orders. “…And know that we have your back.”
However, these six lawmakers clearly have so little regard for the military members that they believe they must school them on their responsibilities to the nation. Is this the crowd you would want to have your back?
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The views expressed are those of the author and not of any other affiliate.
