A viral video featuring six Democratic lawmakers advising U.S. military members to defy unlawful orders has drawn sharp criticism, with former Army Captain Doug Truax calling it ‘unpatriotic’ and warning of potential chaos within the military chain of command. The video, which has since gone viral, features Senate Democrats Elissa Slotkin, Mark Kelly, and representatives Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan, and Jason Crow. All participants have military backgrounds, including service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and CIA. Truax, founder of Restoration of America, argued that the video undermines the military’s chain of command and risks eroding trust and cohesion. President Donald Trump also condemned the video, labeling it ‘seditious behavior.’ Secretary of War Pete Hegseth echoed these concerns, warning that such rhetoric could create hesitation and distrust within the ranks. Truax, who has a history of criticizing Democratic policies, suggested the video was a political move to maintain influence in a shifting political landscape. He warned that the current volatile climate, marked by political violence and division, makes the video particularly dangerous. Truax also drew parallels to the post-Vietnam era, cautioning against politicizing the military and risking the morale of service members who already face immense challenges in their service.
The video, released last week, has sparked a range of reactions from military officials and public figures. Truax emphasized that the message in the video blurs the line between military duty and political action, which he argued could lead to confusion and hesitation among troops. He pointed out that while service members are trained to refuse illegal orders, the video’s suggestion to ‘refuse’ might lead to unnecessary suspicion of lawful commands. Truax also criticized the lawmakers for failing to recognize the potential for misinterpretation and the risk of eroding the military’s ability to operate effectively. He warned that the current political climate, with incidents like the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the near-assassination of President Trump, makes the video’s message a potential source of further division and chaos.