Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has condemned a video released by a group of Democratic lawmakers, calling it ‘abhorrent’ for urging service members to refuse illegal orders. The video, titled ‘Don’t Give Up the Ship,’ has sparked controversy and criticism from several right-leaning figures, including Rep. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., and War Secretary Pete Hegseth. Blanche, speaking on ‘Hann’ty,’ described the content as akin to propaganda from adversaries trying to recruit military personnel to become spies, emphasizing the potential consequences of such messaging on national security.
The video features a group of Democratic lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds, including Sens. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., as well as Reps. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa.; Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H.; Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa.; and Jason Crow, D-Colo. These lawmakers invoke their prior service while warning of threats to the Constitution from within the country. They urge military members and intelligence officials to ‘refuse illegal orders,’ emphasizing their responsibility to uphold the law and maintain the Constitution. However, the lawmakers have not provided specific examples of what they consider to be unlawful commands by the Trump administration, raising questions about the context of their message.
Blanche accused the Democratic lawmakers of attempting to incite military defiance, suggesting that the administration’s actions are not illegal and that those involved should be held accountable. ‘I think that those congressmen should be required to answer questions and to answer questions about why they did what they did. And the American people deserve that. And so does President Trump,’ remarked Blanche. The criticism comes at a time when several right-leaning figures have expressed disapproval of the video, with Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., a former U.S. Navy SEAL, calling it ‘extremely foolish and cowardly,’ and criticizing the lack of specific examples of illegal orders by the Trump administration.
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, one of the lawmakers featured in the video, defended the content, stating that the video is a historic naval motto representing steadfastness, duty, and loyalty to country. She emphasized that the message is not one of rebellion but rather a reminder of constitutional obligations and the right of military members to refuse unlawful commands. ‘There is nothing more patriotic, nothing more stabilizing and nothing more true to the rule of law than reminding our military of their constitutional obligations and reassuring them that, if they are ever given an unlawful order, they do not have to carry it out,’ she asserted.
Crow, in a statement to ‘The Ingraham Angle,’ added his support, stating that the president is placing service members in a difficult position by sending active-duty troops to police U.S. cities and discussing using the military against the ‘enemy within.’ He highlighted that the lawmakers are reminding service members of their legal protections under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, ensuring they can refuse unlawful commands without fear of retribution. However, Slotkin’s office provided a specific example of an alleged illegal order—when President Trump asked former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper if he could shoot protesters in the legs. This example underscores the context of the lawmakers’ concerns but does not fully align with the content of the video, leaving room for further debate and scrutiny.