A video showing six Democrats advising U.S. troops to disobey unlawful directives has generated controversy, with President Donald Trump labeling it as “seditious behavior.”
Former U.S. Army Captain Doug Truax, founder of Restoration of America, told Fox News Digital the video could damage the military’s command structure and worsen political tensions nationwide.
“This ranks among the most unpatriotic acts I’ve witnessed,” Truax stated to Fox News Digital.
Truax contended that compromising the military’s chain of command would result in turmoil as troops begin questioning directives based on morality instead of legality. He commented that placing the burden on service members was “unfair to them” because they are dealing with challenging duties and don’t want to be drawn into political disputes.
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The video, which surfaced last week, included Sens. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Reps. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H., Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., and Jason Crow, D-Colo. The lawmakers featured in the video have various military backgrounds, including service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Central Intelligence Agency.
In the now-viral video, the lawmakers inform U.S. military personnel that they are allowed and obligated to reject illegal orders, a point Truax said service members are already aware of. He claimed the Democrats in the video were “muddying the waters.”
“The situation is that elected officials are essentially telling our people in uniform that if they disagree with something, they don’t have to do it, even though they are never required to follow illegal orders. Everyone knows that. They’re muddying the waters here,” Truax said.
He added that this kind of message creates “a lot of anxiety” for those in the field who might second guess lawful orders. Truax also emphasized the importance of the military’s chain of command, noting that its absence would lead to “a lot of chaos.”
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth shared a similar view on Tuesday, writing in an X post, “The despicable video encouraging troops to ‘refuse illegal orders’ might seem benign to civilians, but it holds a different significance within the military.”
“In the military, unclear language and uncertainty undermine trust, cause hesitation in the chain of command, and weaken cohesion. The military already has established procedures for dealing with unlawful orders. It doesn’t need political figures sowing doubt into an already defined chain of command,” Hegseth added.
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Asked about those who defend the lawmakers based on their military service, Truax responded that their experience in uniform makes the video even more problematic.
“They should be more aware,” he noted. “This is all about securing political leverage. I believe they all recognize they are gradually losing political influence because the country is shifting toward conservatism, order, and the rule of law. Therefore, they are looking for ways to maintain their political power.”
Truax asserted that the video is especially dangerous given the current volatile political climate, citing the attack on Charlie Kirk and the attempted assassination of Trump. He accused the lawmakers in the video of exacerbating division.
“We are already seeing a lot of political violence. The president was nearly killed, and Charlie Kirk was attacked. There’s a lot happening right now, and then these guys come out and do this. I think most Americans would agree that this is not a good idea. We don’t need to add fuel to the fire with what these guys are doing,” Truax told Fox News Digital.
He was highly critical of the lawmakers, calling them a “sophisticated D.C. version of Antifa,” suggesting they are trying to “further divide the country.”
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Despite suggesting the video’s message could create disorder within the ranks, Truax said he doubts active-duty service members will be affected by the controversy. However, he believes National Guard members and reservists will encounter challenges when they “find themselves in tough situations in some city, following legal and lawful orders.”
Truax cautioned that the U.S. might be repeating mistakes by politicizing the military, comparing it to the treatment of troops after the Vietnam War. After fighting an intense war, soldiers faced significant criticism upon returning home. Truax shared a personal example, mentioning that his father-in-law served in Vietnam and received a Purple Heart before serving in the Army for 20 years.
“His return wasn’t easy, even though he was a young, wounded veteran,” Truax said. “He still reflects on it. He’s doing well now, but it was a difficult time.”
He expressed that “nobody wants” to see soldiers sent on difficult and dangerous missions only to face political targeting for serving their country upon their return.
