Democratic lawmakers with military backgrounds have crossed a dangerous line by releasing a viral video instructing troops to refuse what they claim are “illegal orders”.
Story Snapshot
- Six Democratic lawmakers released “Don’t Give Up the Ship” video urging military personnel to refuse illegal orders
- Deputy AG Todd Blanche called the video “abhorrent” and demanded investigation on Fox News
- Video gained over 1.6 million views, raising concerns about undermining military chain of command
- Trump administration officials characterized the message as encouraging insubordination and potential treason
Democrats Cross Constitutional Line With Military Video
Six Democratic lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds released a provocative video titled “Don’t Give Up the Ship” in mid-November 2025, directly addressing active-duty service members and intelligence officers. The participants included Senator Elissa Slotkin, Senator Mark Kelly, Representative Jason Crow, Representative Chris Deluzio, Representative Maggie Goodlander, and Representative Chrissy Houlahan. These Democrats leveraged their military credentials to tell current personnel they should refuse orders they deem illegal, a message that fundamentally undermines military discipline and the constitutional chain of command.
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Administration Responds to Dangerous Precedent
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared on Fox News’s Hannity program to condemn what he called the Democrats’ “abhorrent” attempt to politicize military service. Blanche declared that these lawmakers “should be held to account” and emphasized that “the American people deserve that, and so does President Trump.” The Deputy AG’s forceful response reflects the administration’s serious concern about elected officials encouraging military personnel to second-guess lawful orders from their constitutionally-elected Commander-in-Chief. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller characterized the video as stoking “insurrection” and demanded the Democrats “resign in disgrace.”
Deputy AG blasts Democrats' 'abhorrent' video urging troops to 'refuse illegal orders' https://t.co/emLIwotWCb #FoxNews
— Deen Coldwell III (@deen_iii) November 20, 2025
Viral Video Threatens Military Unity
The Democratic video has gained alarming traction with over 1.6 million views across social platforms, demonstrating its dangerous reach within military and intelligence communities. This viral spread raises serious concerns about the message’s potential impact on military morale, discipline, and unit cohesion. When sitting members of Congress publicly encourage active-duty personnel to refuse orders, they create a precedent that could undermine the fundamental principle of civilian control over the military.
The timing appears calculated to coincide with broader Democratic efforts to restrict presidential authority over military deployments and operations. These lawmakers had been working on legislation to limit Trump’s ability to deploy National Guard domestically and launch military actions, suggesting this video represents part of a coordinated campaign to hamstring executive authority during critical national security operations.
Sources:
Donald Trump Calls for Execution of Democrats Who Told Military to Obey Constitution
Jason Crow and DOJ Clash Over Viral Military Orders Video
White House targets Democratic veterans who told troops to refuse illegal orders
Democrats urge military members to refuse ‘illegal orders’ in viral video
