Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired back at a viral video featuring six Democratic lawmakers with military or intelligence experience who urged service members to reject any “illegal orders” from the Trump administration. The message comes as President Donald Trump faces mounting criticism over National Guard deployments in major U.S. cities and military strikes targeting drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean.
In the video, titled “Don’t Give Up the Ship,” Senators Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mark Kelly of Arizona, along with Representatives Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, warn that constitutional threats are emerging domestically.
Why It Matters
Trump’s recent decisions to send National Guard forces to cities such as Chicago and Portland, Oregon, and to expand operations against alleged narcoterrorists in the Caribbean have deepened partisan divisions. Democrats argue the moves blur legal lines around domestic military deployment and overseas force, while Republicans say the administration is acting within its authority to restore order and combat trafficking.
The lawmakers behind the video have introduced legislation aimed at tightening those powers. Slotkin’s No Troops in Our Streets Act would restrict Trump’s ability to deploy the National Guard within the United States without clearer congressional checks. Separately, Representative Jason Crow of Colorado has introduced a War Powers Continuing Resolution challenging the legality of Caribbean strikes he says were carried out without authorization.
What To Know
Hegseth responded to the video after it was shared on X by the conservative account Libs of TikTok, posting “Stage 4 TDS,” a jab using the shorthand for “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
In the roughly one-minute clip, the Democratic group tells service members they have both the right and obligation to refuse unlawful directives.
They say troops are under heavy pressure and that public trust in the military is being tested. The lawmakers argue that the administration is setting uniformed personnel against American citizens and remind service members of their oath to defend the Constitution. Their core message: if an order violates the law or Constitution, it should not be carried out.
Republicans quickly condemned the video. Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt accused the Democrats of trying to undermine the elected president by encouraging military intervention. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham said he has seen no evidence that Trump or Hegseth issued unlawful orders and announced he would formally demand the lawmakers specify which orders they believe are illegal.
What People Are Saying
Libs of TikTok wrote on X that the video was a call for troops to commit treason by defying Trump and Hegseth.
Schmitt echoed that view, saying Democrats were inviting the military and intelligence community to step into politics after losing at the ballot box.
Graham, speaking on Fox News, insisted there was no proof of illegal directives and challenged the lawmakers to explain their accusations.
What Happens Next
Graham said he will send a letter asking the Democrats to identify when and where any illegal orders were given. The exchange is likely to intensify scrutiny of Trump’s National Guard deployments and the scope of his Caribbean operations, keeping the confrontation between the administration and congressional Democrats in the spotlight.
