Trump Declares Lawmakers ‘Seditionists’ for Warning Military About Illegal Orders, Threatens Arrest and Trial

President Donald Trump lashed out at six Democratic lawmakers on Thursday, demanding their arrest for what he called “seditious behavior.” The lawmakers had posted a video urging members of the U.S. military to uphold their oaths to the Constitution, even if it meant refusing illegal orders from the president.

Trump named Senators Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mark Kelly of Arizona, and Representatives Jason Crow of Colorado, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, Chris Deluzio, and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania. All six are military veterans. On Truth Social, Trump called them “traitors to our country” and said they should be “arrested and put on trial.”

He wrote: “Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won’t have a Country anymore!!!” In a follow-up post, Trump called their statements “really bad, and Dangerous to our Country.” He also repeated the all-caps accusation of “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR” and suggested such “behavior” could be “punishable by DEATH.”

The lawmakers’ video was meant to educate military and intelligence personnel. They warned of “threats to our Constitution” coming “from right here at home” — a reference to Trump’s administration. They also reminded service members: “You can refuse illegal orders.”

The lawmakers cited Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which requires service members to obey lawful orders. Crow explained their reasoning during a Wednesday Fox News appearance:

“I don’t want to wait until that happens to remind our troops of this obligation because then it will be too late. We are standing by our troops, our service members who are often put in very difficult positions and Donald Trump has put them in very difficult positions and has alluded to putting them in even more difficult positions in the months and years ahead, so we are reminding folks about what the uniform code of military justice says, what the Constitution says, what the law of war says.”

Crow added that the video was necessary because of Trump’s past actions, including pushing for National Guard troops to shoot protesters and threatening to send troops to polling stations during elections. “I am standing by our service members,” he said.

Despite Trump’s calls for arrest, experts say there is little legal basis for prosecution. Members of Congress enjoy broad immunity for official acts, and the First Amendment protects political speech. The United States has not had laws criminalizing speech as “sedition” since the Sedition Act of 1918 was repealed. A law against “seditious conspiracy” exists, but it only applies to plots to use force against the government or prevent laws from being executed by force. Punishment under that law tops out at 20 years in prison, not death.

Trump’s top aides also reacted. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told Fox News that the lawmakers’ video was a “general call for rebellion… from the CIA and the armed services” and called it “insurrection, plainly, directly, without question.”

Senator Mark Kelly, a former Naval aviator, responded on social media: “I got shot at serving our country in combat, and I was there when your boss sent a violent mob to attack the Capitol. I know the difference between defending our Constitution and an insurrection, even if you don’t.”

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who once served as Trump’s personal lawyer, also condemned the video.

Speaking to Fox host Sean Hannity, he said the video was “alarming” and a “disgusting and inappropriate display of supposed leadership from the Democrat [sic] Party.” He added, “I felt like I was watching a propaganda video by one of our enemies trying to recruit the military to become spies,” and vowed the Justice Department would “look closely” to see if any laws were broken.

Legal experts warn that the lawmakers were exercising their rights. They were reminding service members of their constitutional duties, not plotting rebellion. The lawmakers’ message was about protecting the military from being used to commit illegal acts.

Featured image via Youtube screengrab