Representative Seth Moulton (D-MA), a former Marine and Iraq War veteran, says some military officers are preparing resignation letters over concerns that President Donald Trump may issue unconstitutional orders—a move he described as unprecedented and alarming.
Speaking on the “MeidasTouch” podcast with Ben Meiselas, Moulton said Trump is “undermining our democracy by politicizing the military.”
“If one leader or political party controls the military, then democracy no longer functions fairly,” Moulton said in a clip now circulating widely on X (formerly Twitter).
He said the concerns stem from recent actions, such as Trump’s deployment of military forces against protesters in Los Angeles. Moulton claimed that multiple officers, especially within the Marine Corps, are questioning whether following such directives would violate their oath to uphold the Constitution—not loyalty to any individual.
“I’ve been told some officers already have resignation letters written—similar to what General James Mattis prepared when he was Secretary of Defense, anticipating that he might be asked to carry out an unlawful order,” Moulton said.
Reflecting on his own experience during the Iraq War, Moulton noted, “Even though I opposed the war and voted against the president who led it, I never questioned the legality of the orders we received. That’s different now. Today, some junior officers are asking whether orders are even lawful.”
Moulton concluded by expressing faith in the integrity of the Marine Corps: “This is a dangerous time for our country, but I trust the Marines—perhaps more than any military unit—to do their best to uphold the law.”
