Deputy AG slams Democrats’ ‘abhorrent’ video urging troops to defy orders
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Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche responded after a group of Democratic lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds released a video urging service members to “reject illegal orders.”
“This is disgusting behavior,” Blanche said on “Hannity” Wednesday night.
“I felt like I was watching a propaganda video where one of our enemies was trying to enlist the military as spies,” Blanche said.
Blanche continued: “When you see what these men and women are saying about this administration, about this president…what is the reason to say what they are saying other than to encourage our members of the military? [and] A wise community disobeying a direct order from their superiors?
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Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche arrives at the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House for a press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump on August 11 in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
In the video titled “Don’t Give Up the Ship,” six Democratic lawmakers remind members of the military and intelligence agencies of their previous service while telling them that “threats to our Constitution are coming from right here, from home.”
Lawmakers featured in the video include Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.; Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.; Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa.; Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D.N.H.; Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa.; and Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo.
Some read a version of the line: “You may reject illegal orders. You must reject illegal orders.”
Slotkin and his colleagues have sought to introduce legislation to limit President Trump’s ability to deploy National Guard members domestically or launch military action against narco-terrorists without congressional approval, but that context is not included in the video.
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Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., rehearses President Donald Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress on March 4 in Wyandotte, Mich. Slotkin, one of the Democratic lawmakers featured in the video, urges service members to “reject illegal orders.” (Paul Sancya – Pool/Getty Images)
Blanche insisted the administration’s actions were not “illegal” and said Democrats involved should be “held accountable.”
“I think these members of Congress should be asked to answer questions and answer questions about why they did what they did. And the American people deserve that. So does President Trump,” he said.
Numerous right-leaning voices criticized the video, including TikTok Librarians, Rep. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and former U.S. Navy SEAL Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz.
Crane called the video on “The Ingraham Angle” “extremely stupid and cowardly” and accused Democrats of failing to provide specific examples of illegal orders issued by the Trump administration.
When reached for comment, Houlahan told Fox News Digital in a statement: “The administration and some in the media are actively working to spin this message into something dark or divisive.”
“Let me be absolutely clear: There is nothing more patriotic, more stabilizing, and more faithful to the rule of law than reminding our military of their constitutional obligations and assuring them that if they are given an unlawful order, they do not have to carry it out.”
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“‘Don’t Surrender the Ship’ is not a rebellion slogan; historical maritime motto It has always been a symbol of determination, duty and loyalty to the country. “This is the backbone of the American civil-military tradition,” he added.
In a statement to “The Ingraham Angle,” Crow said: “The President is putting our troops in a very difficult position. He is sending active duty troops into U.S. cities and discussing using our military against the enemy at home. We remind our troops of what the law and the Uniform Rules of Military Justice clearly say, and you have the right and obligation not to follow illegal orders.”
Regarding specific illegal orders issued by the Trump administration, Slotkin’s office told the program: “Trump [former Secretary of Defense] If only Mark Esper could shoot protesters in the legs.”
white houseSlotkin, Kelly, Deluzio and Goodlander did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s previous requests for comment.
Fox News’ Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.
