On November 19, 2025, Trump posted the following on Truth Social:

HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!

This was a re-post from an anonymous social media account.

On November 20, 2025 Trump posted the following on Truth Social:

truthsocial.com/@WashingtonExa. It's called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand - We won't have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET. President DJT

About 10 minutes later Trump posted the following on Truth Social:

This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP??? President DJT

Along with the post was a link to an article on the Washington Examiner website entitled "Democratic veterans in Congress urge service members to refuse unspecified unlawful orders".

About one hour later Trump posted the following on Truth Social:

SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!

Trump's posts were in response to a video posted by a group of six Democratic lawmakers (Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan), Senator Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), House Representative Chris Deluzio (D-Pennsylvania), House Representative Maggie Goodlander (D-New Hampshire), House Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pennsylvania), and House Representative Jason Crow (D-Colorado) on November 18, 2025. All six lawmakers formerly served in the military or the intelligence community.

Some Democrats have challenged the legality of Trump's use of the military regarding suspected drug traffickers in the southern Caribbean and the Pacific, as well as the Trump administration's deployment of the National Guard in major U.S. cities. Although the lawmakers make no mention of any specific orders in the video, the message put forth in the video is that active members of the U.S. military do not have to obey illegal orders.

Source:

Knutson, Jacob; Kupfer, Matthew. (November 20, 2025). "Trump Calls for Executing Democrats Over Message to Military". Decmocracy Docket. Retrieved 2025-11-25.

Chiacu, Doina; Bose, Nandita; Erickson, Bo. (November 20, 2025). "Trump says 'seditious' Democrats urging US troops to refuse illegal orders should face death". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-11-28.

On November 21, 2025, speaking on Fox News Trump said he was "not threatening death" against the Democratic lawmakers who released the video.

On November 22, 2025 Trump posted the following on Truth Social:

THE TRAITORS THAT TOLD THE MILITARY TO DISOBEY MY ORDERS SHOULD BE IN JAIL RIGHT NOW, NOT ROAMING THE FAKE NEWS NETWORKS TRYING TO EXPLAIN THAT WHAT THEY SAID WAS OK.

CAN BE NO OTHER INTERPRETATION. MANY GREAT LEGAL SCHOLARS AGREE THAT THE DEMOCRAT TRAITORS THAT TOLD THE MILITARY TO DISOBEY MY ORDERS, AS PRESIDENT, HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME OF SERIOUS PROPORTION!

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson responded to Trump's posts by saying "the words that the president chose are not the ones that I would use," adding Trump was simply "defining the crime of sedition." Johnson called the video "wildly inappropriate" and "very dangerous." Regarding responsibility to tone down hostility in U.S. politics, Johnson said "I don't think you can put the blame on the president for any of that, the rhetoric is heated all the way around."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded by saying "They [the six lawmakers] are literally saying to 1.3 million active duty service members to defy the chain of command, not to follow lawful orders. It perhaps is punishable by law."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X saying "Donald Trump has made political violence a feature of his politics. No president has encouraged violence the way this president has."

Source:

Faguy, Ana; Drenon, Brandon. (November 21, 2025). "Trump says he was 'not threatening death' to Democrats over video to troops". BBC. Retrieved 2025-11-25.

On November 24, 2025, in a post on X the Pentagon said it is investigating Arizona Senator Mark Kelly for possible breaches of military law:

OFFICIAL STATEMENT:

The Department of War has received serious allegations of misconduct against Captain Mark Kelly, USN (Ret.). In accordance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 688, and other applicable regulations, a thorough review of these allegations has been initiated to determine further actions, which may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures. This matter will be handled in compliance with military law, ensuring due process and impartiality. Further official comments will be limited, to preserve the integrity of the proceedings.

The Department of War reminds all individuals that military retirees remain subject to the UCMJ for applicable offenses, and federal laws such as 18 U.S.C. § 2387 prohibit actions intended to interfere with the loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces. Any violations will be addressed through appropriate legal channels.

All servicemembers are reminded that they have a legal obligation under the UCMJ to obey lawful orders and that orders are presumed to be lawful. A servicemember's personal philosophy does not justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order.

On November 24, 2025, in a post on X Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said:

The video made by the "Seditious Six" was despicable, reckless, and false. Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of "good order and discipline." Their foolish screed sows doubt and confusion — which only puts our warriors in danger.

Five of the six individuals in that video do not fall under @DeptofWar jurisdiction (one is CIA and four are former military but not "retired", so they are no longer subject to UCMJ). However, Mark Kelly (retired Navy Commander) is still subject to UCMJ—and he knows that.

As was announced, the Department is reviewing his statements and actions, which were addressed directly to all troops while explicitly using his rank and service affiliation—lending the appearance of authority to his words. Kelly's conduct brings discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed appropriately.

In addition, on November 24, 2025 the FBI launched an investigation into the six lawmakers in the video. The next day, Senator Elissa Slotkin responded on X posting:

Last night, the FBI's Counterterrorism Division appeared to open an inquiry into me in response to a video President Trump did not like.

The President directing the FBI to target us is exactly why we made this video in the first place. He believes in weaponizing the federal government against his perceived enemies and does not believe laws apply to him or his Cabinet. He uses legal harassment as an intimidation tactic to scare people out of speaking up.

This isn't just about a video. This is not the America I know, and I'm not going to let this next step from the FBI stop me from speaking up for my country and our Constitution.

Finally, on November 24, 2025, Arizona Senator Mark Kelley posted the following on X:

Secretary Hegseth's tweet is the first I heard of this. I also saw the President's posts saying I should be arrested, hanged, and put to death.

If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won't work. I've given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution.

Although the lawmakers in the video didn't state a specific reason for posting the video, former government officials and experts have raised legal concerns about the deployment of the National Guard to Democrat-led cities and whether U.S. strikes on alleged drug vessels in the southern Caribbean and eastern Pacific since early September have broken international law.

Speaking on MS NOW, Elissa Slotkin said the message in the video was "chapter and verse" from the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). The UCMJ is federal criminal law that applies to service members around the world. Under military law, service members are obligated to obey lawful orders, but to disobey unlawful orders.

Source:

Cook, Ellie. (November 23, 2025). "Donald Trump Aghast at 'Sedition' Democrats on TV—'Should Be in Jail'". Newsweek. Retrieved 2025-11-25.

Feb 24, 2026 Update

Jeanine Pirro's office shelves pursuit of Democrats over social video, sources say | The Hill

Feb 13, 2026 Update

Johnson says 6 Democrats should be indicted after grand jury rebuke | The Hill

Feb 12, 2026 Update

Judge hands Hegseth loss in bid to punish Mark Kelly over ‘illegal orders' video | The Hill

Feb 11, 2026 Update

Yesterday, a federal grand jury refused to indict the Democratic lawmakers who posted the "illegal orders" video.

The indictment was sought by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro. Pirro was chosen by Trump as the interim United States attorney for the District of Columbia on May 8, 2025, she was sworn in on May 28, and she was confirmed to the full position on August 2, 2025.

Arizona Senator Mark Kelley posted the following on X:

This is an outrageous abuse of power by Donald Trump and his lackies. It wasn't enough for Pete Hegseth to censure me and threaten to demote me, now it appears they tried to have me charged with a crime — all because of something I said that they didn't like. That's not the way things work in America. Donald Trump wants every American to be too scared to speak out against him. The most patriotic thing any of us can do is not back down.

Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin posted the following on X (bold added for emphasis):

Today, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro attempted to persuade a Grand Jury to indict me. This was in response to me organizing a 90-second video that simply quoted the law. Pirro did this at the direction of President Trump, who said repeatedly that I should be investigated, arrested, and hanged for sedition.

Today, it was a grand jury of anonymous American citizens who upheld the rule of law and determined this case should not proceed. Hopefully, this ends this politicized investigation for good.

But today wasn't just an embarrassing day for the Administration. It was another sad day for our country.

Because whether or not Pirro succeeded is not the point. It's that President Trump continues to weaponize our justice system against his perceived enemies. It's the kind of thing you see in a foreign country, not in the United States we know and love.

No matter what President Trump and Pirro continue to do with this case, tonight we can score one for the Constitution, our freedom of speech, and the rule of law.

Feb 5, 2026 Update

Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin posted posted a video on X stating why she will not be meeting with Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro as part of their inquiry into the video. In the video Slotkin said the Trump administration is "purposely using physical and legal intimidation to get me to shut up" and "deter others from speaking out against their Administration," adding "The intimidation is the point, and I'm not going to go along with that."

Jan 12, 2026 Update

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly filed a lawsuit against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over Hegseth's efforts to censure Kelly and lower his retirement rank and military pension.

Nov 30, 2025 Update

Trump posted the following on Truth Social:

There are laws that impact our Nation. Read Title 18, Chapter 115, Section 2387, "Whoever with the intent to interfere, impair, influence the loyalty, moral or discipline of the military and Naval Forces,……to be fined or imprisoned up to 10 years." Commander Kirk Lippold, U.S. Navy, Ret. This is right on point. DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE!!!

Commentary:

According to a November 24, 2025 article on Factcheck.org entitled "Experts Say Democratic Video Not 'Seditious'," several legal experts said that what was stated in the video is nowhere close to being "seditious."

The Legal Information Institute (part of the Cornell Law School) states "18 U.S. Code § 2384 - Seditious conspiracy" as follows:

If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.

It's clear that the six lawmakers DID NOT do any of the things stated in 18 U.S. Code § 2384.

The Code states that for seditious conspiracy there must be force involved, which negates any argument to be made claiming that what was said in the video was "to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States."

It's also clear that what was stated in the video is, in fact, true and accurate according to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

That means that Trump and his administration have no legal basis for their accusations.

Let's get real here and call this what it is. This is nothing more than Trump and his minions blowing a lot of "hot air" about nothing.

It's also way of distracting the American public from the failings and steady disintegration of Trump and Republicans in Congress.

This is Trump doing what he always does when he sees an opportunity to trash Democrats.

Once again, as always, facts and objective reality mean nothing to Trump. Facts are just inconveniences and roadblocks that get in the way of Trump's beliefs, his policies, and his ego.

The investigations by the Pentagon and the FBI are going nowhere.

Once again Trump has shown us just how warped and insane he really is.

Trump's November 30 social media post is an obvious, blatant attempt to get U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to begin an investigation and potentially prosecute the lawmakers who posted the video. The U.S. Department of Justice is supposed to be an independent entity, NOT to be influenced by the whims of a sitting president and NOT to be used by a sitting president for political purposes. This is just another example of Trump weaponizing the DOJ.