Trump targets Democrats over video of 'illegal orders', citing Hegseth boat strikes as evidence: 'A lot of juju'

Last month, President Donald Trump strongly criticized several Democratic lawmakers who released a video explaining that military personnel have the right to refuse illegal orders. Trump accused them of SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR and suggested such actions were punishable by DEATH in a post on Truth Social. The Pentagon even threatened to court-martial Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) for his involvement in the video.

Now, as questions continue around a controversial double-tap strike on an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean involving Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the Democrats who participated in the video argue that the incident validates their earlier concerns.

Representative Jason Crow (D-Colo.), a retired Army Ranger, who appeared in the video, emphasized that despite Trumps accusations, their message was entirely lawful. This situation highlights why the guidance in our video remains important, Crow told The Independent.

Crow explained that the administrations recent strike near Venezuela reinforces the reason he and other Democrats encouraged servicemembers to question orders that might be illegal. While you must respect and follow lawful orders, any request that is unlawful or unconstitutional obligates you to uphold the law and the Constitution, he said.

Crow also criticized Hegseth for his casual attitude, noting an AI-generated parody depicting missiles being fired at drug boats. Its hardly surprising that someone with little experience, more interested in theatrics than military strategy, could create dangerous scenarios for our armed forces, Crow remarked, referencing Hegseths past struggles with alcohol, which the Secretary has stated are behind him.

Recently, Admiral Frank Bradley and General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefed top lawmakers on the Intelligence and Armed Services Committees after reports claimed Hegseth ordered Navy SEALs to kill everybody on the targeted vessel, including survivors. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) defended the strikes as lawful and justified.

Democratic lawmakers with military or intelligence experience have said the video they released was motivated by concerns about orders they considered potentially illegal. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), a former intelligence analyst, noted ongoing worries about administration actions, including sending troops into U.S. cities. She stated, Recent reports about strikes in the Caribbean show there was a lot of concern within the system about legality.

Slotkin added that although they did not know the exact details of the double-tap strike, the situation validated the concerns they expressed in the video. The cumulative warnings and internal doubts make this incident especially illustrative, she said.

Senator Kelly called for a full Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the matter. The American public deserves transparency on this issue, he said, while stressing he did not want to preempt the ongoing investigation. Kelly also recalled prior statements from Trump suggesting military personnel should follow his orders even in potentially unlawful situations, highlighting concerns about Hegseths qualifications as Secretary of Defense.

While bipartisan criticism has emerged over the strike, Trump and Hegseth remain largely unaffected for now. Investigations initiated by the previous administration are still in early stages, testing the balance between executive authority and congressional oversight.

Author: Gavin Porter