Dem veterans break silence after viral video causes backlash on social media: 'Frustrated'
Democrats and Republicans heard two very different takeaways when a group of Democratic lawmakers called on U.S. servicemembers not to carry out certain orders in a video that went viral...
By Fox News · Fox News
Democrats and Republicans heard two very different takeaways when a group of Democratic lawmakers called on U.S. servicemembers not to carry out certain orders in a video that went viral on social media on Tuesday. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., one of the lawmakers featured in the video, expressed exasperation with how critics had framed its message. "I’m not telling people to ignore orders," Houlahan said on Wednesday. "I’m enormously frustrated with the way that this very sensible video is being interpreted in a really insidious way." AS ‘SQUAD’ TURNS ASSIMILATION INTO ‘DIRTY WORD,’ EXPERT URGES US LEADERS TO RENOUNCE FOREIGN LOYALTIES Houlahan, alongside five other Democrats with military or intelligence experience, had encouraged servicemembers to not carry out unlawful orders. "The threats to our constitution aren’t just coming from abroad but from right here at home. Our laws are clear: you can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our constitution," the lawmakers said. "Don’t give up the ship," the video added — a reference to a phrase used by the Navy. Houlahan was joined by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., and Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-NH. The video did not give an example of what specific kinds of orders servicemembers might have to refuse. In a separate post to X , Slotkin hinted that servicemembers asked to carry out airstrikes off the coast of Venezuela might be engaging in illegal strikes and said that some pilots had expressed concern about their involvement. PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CALLS ON NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO DEFY DEPLOYMENT ORDERS Republicans responding to the exhortation mocked it as an example of Democratic paranoia towards Trump. "[It’s] Stage 4 TDS," Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a post to X , referring to Trump derangement syndrome — a moniker for the Democrat fixation on the pre…