Former United States President Donald Trump has intensified his attacks on six Democratic lawmakers, insisting that they should be immediately jailed for urging military officers to reject unlawful commands. The comment escalates a political confrontation that began after the lawmakers featured in a video emphasizing that U.S. troops must refuse “illegal orders” from any commander-in-chief.
Speaking late Saturday on his Truth Social platform, Trump described the Democrats’ message as “sedition at the highest level” and claimed their actions amounted to betrayal of the country. He wrote that the “traitors” who instructed the military to disobey him “should be in jail right now,” accusing them of spreading their views across major news networks without consequences.
The video, released on Friday, featured Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Representatives Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, and Representative Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire. All six have backgrounds in the military or intelligence community. In the video, they urged service members to refuse any command that violates the law, although they did not specify which orders prompted the warning.
Democratic leaders strongly condemned Trump’s remarks, calling his threats “dangerous,” “irresponsible,” and an attempt to intimidate critics. They argued that the lawmakers’ message aligns with established legal doctrine, which requires the military to reject unlawful directives.
Trump has recently clashed with local and federal officials over his use of military force. He has ordered National Guard deployments to several U.S. cities amid claims of unrest and authorized strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Critics have questioned the legality of some of these operations, while Trump has defended them as necessary for national security.
The former president has referenced the death penalty in past disputes involving claims of treason or sedition. His latest comments have sparked renewed debate over the limits of presidential authority, the role of the military in domestic affairs, and the dangers of political rhetoric in an already tense climate.
The controversy also revived earlier discussions surrounding former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley’s revelation that he had privately contacted Chinese military officials after the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot to reassure them of U.S. stability. Trump has previously accused Milley of treason as well.
Political analysts expect further escalation of the dispute as both parties position themselves ahead of next year’s elections, with concerns growing about potential misuse of military power and the impact of inflammatory statements on democratic institutions.
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