U.S. President Donald Trump is facing a new wave of online flak after sharing a recent social media post.
Trump attacked Democratic lawmakers who released a video reminding U.S. service members that they have the right to refuse unlawful orders—for the second time in a month.
The controversy began in November when six Democratic leaders shared a video aimed at military personnel.
Highlights
- Trump criticized Democratic lawmakers twice in a month for reminding troops they can refuse illegal orders.
- Lawmakers urged military personnel to uphold their oath to the Constitution, rather than just follow orders blindly.
- Online users condemned Trump’s comments as authoritarian and defended the legality of refusing illegal commands.
Trump received online flak after criticizing Democratic lawmakers for a second time in a month
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
In it, representatives Jason Crow of Colorado, Chrissy Houlahan and Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, along with senators Mark Kelly of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, reminded troops that they have the legal duty to reject illegal commands.
“Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home,” the lawmakers tell military personnel in the video.
Trump had reacted angrily. He reposted a message calling for the lawmakers involved to be hanged. The repost read, “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!”
After that, he made several posts of his own. He called the video “Dangerous to our Country,” and labeled the lawmakers’ actions “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”
The White House shared another post from Trump yesterday, where he escalated his criticism.
Image credits: The White House/X
“Mark Kelly and the group of Unpatriotic Politicians were WRONG to do what they did, and they know it!” he wrote.
In the same message, he added, “I hope the people looking at them are not duped into thinking that it’s OK to openly and freely get others to disobey the President of the United States!”
His statements immediately drew strong reactions online, with many questioning the state of democracy in the U.S.
One X user said, “They swore an oath to the Constitution not you.”
Lawmakers address military personnel in the video, reminding them they don’t have to accept illegal orders
Image credits: asmartbrunette1/X
Another wrote, “IT IS EXTREMELY PATRIOTIC TO REMEMBER YOU OATH AND DUTY. IT IS UNPATRIOTIC TO DENOUNCE THOSE THAT DO AND CALL FOR THEIR DEAHTS,” parodying Trump’s style of posting in capital letters.
A third said, “When reminding people of their Constitutional obligation, duty and rights is seen as sedition, insurrection or treason, it’s high time to reconsider whether you’re on the right side here (hint: you’re not).”
Sharing an image of the Loyalty To The Constitution Plaque, one user reminded Trump, “It is the duty of military personnel to refuse to obey an order that is clearly illegal and/or violates the Constitution.”
Image credits: Jeff_sixKings/X
Several other social media users emphasized that the point of the lawmakers’ video was a basic legal principle. One commenter wrote that service members “swore an oath to the constitution, not a king.”
Another said, “You work for US not the other way around.”
Some online reactions suggested that Trump’s comments revealed more than frustration.
One critic described his post as “the most authoritarian” they had seen.
Image credits: JwT4Liberty/X
Another questioned why Trump would react this way if he did not give any illegal orders. “Odd. Mark Kelly never said to disobey Trumps orders, just illegal ones. So in stating this, does Trump feel his orders were illegal?” the X user posted.
Image credits: pillchild/X
Many made memes about the situation, including images that read, “For the first time in history, you can simply post ‘he’s an idiot’ and 90% of the world will know who you’re talking about.”
X users also called into question Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who is undergoing an investigation for alleged war crimes in a Caribbean boat strike.
Many questioned Trump and American democracy after he condemned the lawmakers for their video
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
“This is who is in charge of the Department of Defense. He’s responsible for our safety and the safety of everyone in the Armed Forces, and he’s a drunken babbling fool,” one user said, posting an image of Hegseth drinking out of a Champagne bottle.
Image credits: IfSixWere9/X
Another reminded the administration, “Ordering a lethal strike on shipwrecked survivors is not lawful. Under international humanitarian law, it is a war crime.”
Trump has not walked back any of his statements, and his posts continue to circulate widely across social media.