November 20, 2025
Trump threatens death penalty for lawmakers citing established military law about refusing illegal orders
On Nov. 20, 2025, President Trump posted "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" about six Democratic lawmakers who released a video telling service members they can refuse illegal orders.
The lawmakers--all military veterans including Sens. Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly--reminded troops of their legal duty to disobey unconstitutional commands. Trump reposted a message saying "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD" and called for their arrest and trial, marking an unprecedented presidential threat against members of Congress for stating established military law.
On Nov. 20, 2025, President Trump posted multiple social media messages calling six Democratic lawmakers traitors who should face the death penalty for reminding service members they can refuse illegal orders. He wrote SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH! and reposted a message saying HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD. Trump demanded each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL and that their words cannot be allowed to stand.
The six lawmakers are all military veterans or former intelligence officials: Sen. 
Elissa Slotkin (Michigan), Sen. 
Mark Kelly (Arizona, former Navy pilot and astronaut), Rep. Chris DeLuzio (Pennsylvania), Rep. Maggie Goodlander (New Hampshire), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (Pennsylvania), and Rep. Jason Crow (Colorado). They posted a video on Nov. 19, 2025, directly addressing current service members about their legal obligation to refuse illegal orders.
The video stated This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens. Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution. The lawmakers didn't reference any specific orders or policies.
The duty to disobey illegal orders has been established military law since the Nuremberg Trials after World War II. The Uniform Code of Military Justice requires service members to refuse orders that are clearly illegal, unconstitutional, or violate the laws of war. This principle protects both service members and civilians from abuse of military power.
White House Press Secretary 
Karoline Leavitt defended Trump's posts, claiming the lawmakers were telling 1.3 million active duty service members to defy the chain of command and not follow lawful orders. She suggested the lawmakers' actions could be punishable by law, despite their statement specifically referencing illegal orders, not lawful ones.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer responded on the Senate floor, saying Let's be crystal clear, the president of the United States is calling for the execution of elected officials. This is a threat, and it's deadly serious. Schumer said Trump's rhetoric makes political violence more likely in an already contentious environment.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, said the words that the president chose are not the ones that I would use but defended Trump by saying he was simply defining the crime of sedition. Johnson called the Democrats' video wildly inappropriate and very dangerous, claiming it encouraged military disobedience.
The six Democratic lawmakers issued a joint statement responding to Trump's threats: No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation. They emphasized their oath to protect and defend the Constitution applies regardless of presidential threats.
President of the United States
U.S. Senator from Michigan, Former CIA analyst
U.S. Senator from Arizona, Former Navy pilot and astronaut
U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania, Former Navy officer
Senate Democratic Leader
White House Press Secretary
Speaker of the House of Representatives
White House Senior Advisor
civic action
Contact House and Senate leadership demanding condemnation of presidential execution threats
Presidential threats to execute members of Congress violate separation of powers and normalize political violence. Demand bipartisan condemnation and protective measures for threatened lawmakers.
Hi, I'm calling as a constituent about President Trump's threats to execute six Democratic lawmakers.
Key points to mention:
Questions to ask:
Specific request: I want you to publicly condemn Trump's execution threats against lawmakers and support protective measures for Sens. Slotkin and Kelly and Reps. DeLuzio, Goodlander, Houlahan, and Crow.
Thank you for your time.
civic action
File complaint with House Ethics Committee on Speaker Johnson's defense of execution threats
Speaker Johnson defended Trump's execution threats rather than protecting members of Congress, violating his constitutional duty to protect the institution.
Subject: Ethics Complaint Against Speaker Mike Johnson
Dear Committee on Ethics,
I am writing to file a complaint against Speaker Mike Johnson for defending presidential execution threats against members of Congress.
Key facts:
Request: I request the Committee investigate whether Speaker Johnson violated his oath of office by defending presidential threats to execute members of Congress rather than protecting the institution and its members.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
civic action
Support military organizations defending duty to refuse illegal orders
Veterans organizations are defending the principle that service members must refuse illegal orders. Support their advocacy to protect this fundamental safeguard.
I am reaching out to support VoteVets' defense of the military's duty to refuse illegal orders.
Background:
How I can help:
Request: Please let me know how I can best support your work defending the military's obligation to refuse illegal orders and protecting the lawmakers who reminded service members of this duty.
Thank you for your service.