Trump slams Democratic lawmakers for telling military to ‘refuse illegal orders’

President Trump slammed several Democrats as “traitors” who should face jail or even execution over a video that called for U.S. military members to refuse any illegal orders.

Mr. Trump made his thoughts known about the video in a series of Truth Social posts and reposts Thursday, calling it “seditious behavior.”

“It’s called seditious behavior at the highest level. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be arrested and put on trial,” Mr. Trump wrote. “Their words cannot be allowed to stand — We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example must be set.”

In another post, he called the video “really bad, and Dangerous to our Country.”

“Their words cannot be allowed to stand. Seditious behavior from traitors!!! Lock them up???” he continued.

In a third post he wrote, “seditious behavior, punishable by death!”

He also reposted from a Truth Social user who had written, “Hang them. George Washington would!!”

All four posts had large chunks written in screaming all-capital letters, a feature of Mr. Trump’s style.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan had posted the video Tuesday on X with Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Reps. Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, Jason Crow of Colorado, and Chris DeLuzio and Chrissy Houlahan, both of Pennsylvania.

The six lawmakers, all Democrats who have military or intelligence backgrounds, told service members, “Don’t Give Up the Ship,” a famous rallying cry from the War of 1812.

“Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. … You must refuse illegal orders,” they said, taking turns delivering the lines.

The lawmakers pointed to the Uniform Code of Military Justice that says service members must obey lawful orders and disobey unlawful orders.

The lawmakers did not specify any illegal orders given by the administration.

“No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution,” they said. “We know this is hard, and that it’s a difficult time to be a public servant.

The White House defended the president’s comments Thursday to reporters, but specified that Mr. Trump did not want members of Congress executed, but instead held accountable.

“Let’s be clear about what the president is responding, to because many in this room want to talk about the president’s response, but not what brought the president to responding in this way,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

“They are literally saying to 1.3 million active duty service members to defy the chain of command, not to follow lawful orders,” she said. “They’re suggesting that the president has given illegal orders, and he has not.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, called the lawmakers’ video “wildly inappropriate.”

“It is very dangerous you have leading members of Congress telling troops to disobey orders. I think that’s unprecedented in American history,” Mr. Johnson said.

Under U.S. law, sedition, a general word meaning conduct or speech designed to overthrow or undermine the government, is only a capital offense in itself if committed by an active-duty service member.

Seditious conduct can only become a capital offense for civilians if combined with other offenses such as terrorism or treason.

In response to the president’s shot across the bow, the lawmakers said in a joint statement, “What’s most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law.”

“Our service members 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.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Caucus Chair Peter Aguilar of California, also released a joint statement on the president’s comments and called for him to delete the posts.

“We unequivocally condemn Donald Trump’s disgusting and dangerous death threats against Members of Congress and call on House Republicans to forcefully do the same,” they wrote.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said Thursday that he had asked Capitol Police to give protection to Ms. Slotkin and Mr. Kelly.