Google Gemini was used to research this piece. This Essay was posted on 11/26/2025.
6 Democratic legislators made a video reminding military that they can and should refuse to follow illegal orders. The 6 Democrats served in the military or the CIA, and 3 are Combat Veterans. In response to the video Donald Trump accused the Democrats of seditious behavior and called for their arrest, trial, and possible execution, though Trump walked back the death penalty. Trump’s words incited death threats against many of the participants and their families. As a result, the Democrats have received security protection from the Capitol Police. Neither side is backing down.
The Democrats have the Uniform Code of Military Justice on their side. Military law states that a soldier must disobey any order that is manifestly and obviously illegal. A seditious conspiracy is an act to overthrow the government. By simply restating military law, The Democrats are not trying to overthrow the government, according to legal experts. And the video meets all the standards of free speech, like any other garden variety political ad. So, what is Trump’s problem?
Donald Trump is, by definition, now making illegal orders. Courts have generally ruled against Trump’s use of military troops in states because of imaginary lawlessness. And Trump can’t order military planes to bomb boats and kill foreign nationals without due process or a declaration of war, according to international law. If Trump thinks his recently gained immunity makes these actions legal, he is very wrong.
Trump seems to be playing the long game in which the military becomes a political arm of the President in matters foreign and domestic. To do that, he must erase military traditions and military law. Trump is throwing down the gauntlet with his sedition charges, and our response to his actions will determine if he succeeds or fails.
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