Former Army Captain Doug Truax, the founder of Restoration of America, has strongly condemned a viral video showing six Democratic lawmakers urging military personnel to defy illegal orders, labeling the message as ‘unpatriotic.’ The video, which has received extensive attention, features Senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly, along with Representatives Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan, and Jason Crow, who have all served in the military. Truax argued that such a video undermines the military’s chain of command, increasing the risk of chaos within the armed forces. He emphasized that service members are already facing difficult and dangerous tasks, and the introduction of political rhetoric could create confusion about the legality of orders.
President Donald Trump has also criticized the video, calling it ‘seditious behavior.’ Similarly, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth echoed these concerns, stating that the video could create hesitation and undermine trust within the military. Hegseth noted that the armed forces already have clear processes for dealing with unlawful orders and that political actors should not inject ambiguity into the chain of command. Truax further criticized the video’s message, suggesting that it blurs the lines between lawful and unlawful orders, which could lead to service members second-guessing instructions that are perfectly legal. He argued that this kind of rhetoric creates an ‘incredible amount of apprehension’ for troops on the ground.
Truax also highlighted the volatile political environment in which the video was released, citing recent events such as the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the near-assassination of President Trump as examples of existing tensions. He accused the lawmakers in the video of stoking these divisions, calling them a ‘sophisticated D.C. cocktail version of Antifa.’ Truax warned that the video could be particularly dangerous at this moment, as the country is already dealing with significant political unrest. Despite his criticisms, Truax admitted that he does not believe active-duty troops will be directly affected, but he fears that National Guard and reservists could face issues when serving in cities with complex legal situations.
Truax also drew a historical parallel, pointing to the treatment of troops after the Vietnam War, where returning soldiers faced intense criticism and challenges. He shared a personal anecdote about his father-in-law, who received a Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam and later served in the Army for 20 years. Truax emphasized the importance of ensuring that soldiers are not politically targeted after serving their country, highlighting the potential consequences of the video’s message. In a broader critique, Truax suggested that the video is part of an effort by the Democratic lawmakers to ‘fray the country further,’ as they seek to maintain political power in a shifting ideological landscape.