US president roundly decried for Truth Social post after lawmakers told military personnel to refuse illegal orders

US president roundly decried for Truth Social post after lawmakers told military personnel to refuse illegal orders

Democrats expressed outrage after Donald Trump accused a group of Democratic lawmakers of engaging in “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH” and that they should be arrested after they posted a video in which they told active service members they should refuse illegal orders.

The video, released on Tuesday, features six Democratic lawmakers who have previously served in the military or in intelligence roles, including senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly, and representatives Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan and Jason Crow.

“Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this constitution,” the lawmakers said in the 90-second video. “And right now, the threats to our constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear, you can refuse illegal orders, you can refuse illegal orders, you must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our constitution.”

That seemed to prompt a furious response from the US president.

  • myrmidex@belgae.social
    12·
    9 hours ago

    Mike Johnson, the Republican House speaker, defended Trump’s claim that the Democrats had engaged in “sedition”, describing the video as “wildly inappropriate”, adding: “It is very dangerous, you have leading members of Congress telling troops to disobey orders, I think that’s unprecedented in American history.”

    Johnson also reportedly told the Independent that in what he read of Trump’s posts, Trump was “defining the crime of sedition”.

    “But obviously attorneys have to parse the language and determine all that. What I’m saying, what I will say unequivocally, that was a wildly inappropriate thing for so-called leaders in Congress to do to encourage young troops to disobey orders,” Johnson added.

    source

    • A_norny_mousse@feddit.org
      9·
      2 hours ago

      Thanks!

      “wildly inappropriate” == death penalty, got it. 👍

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

      That’s not what they said though - they said not to obey unconstitutional orders. And I’m pretty sure that’s not unprecedented.

      If it all wasn’t so bloody obvious anyhow I’d say they’re really showing their hand.

      • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
        2·
        3 hours ago

        Military personnel should have to undergo a daily warnings that they have the Constitutional obligation to refuse to obey illegal, unConstitutional orders. Signs should be posted everywhere - in barracks, the cafeteria, duty stations, etc… Maybe it should be automatically texted to their phone every morning. If they saw regular signs, heard announcements, got texts, etc., they’d know it was serious.

        More importantly, those who might be tempted to give illegal orders, will think twice, knowing that the ranks have been heavily warned about it.

    • dan1101@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      5 hours ago

      So his boss can spew out the verbal diarrhea and it’s ok because it’s not what he “really” meant. Bullshit.