Former Army Captain Criticizes Democrats’ Video Urging Troops to Reject Orders

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A video released last week featuring six Democratic lawmakers urging U.S. military members to reject unlawful orders has drawn sharp criticism from a former Army captain and military officials, who warn it could undermine the military chain of command and increase political tensions.

Doug Truax, a former U.S. Army captain and founder of Restoration of America, called the video “one of the most unpatriotic things” he has seen, telling Fox News Digital that it risks causing confusion and chaos among troops. “This is one of the most unpatriotic things I’ve seen in my lifetime,” Truax said.

The video includes Senators Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mark Kelly of Arizona, along with Representatives Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, and Jason Crow of Colorado. All have military or intelligence backgrounds, including service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Central Intelligence Agency.

In the video, the lawmakers tell service members they can and must refuse illegal orders. Truax acknowledged that military personnel are already aware they are not required to obey unlawful orders but said the video blurs important lines. “You’ve got the situation where you have elected officials that are basically telling our people in uniform that if you don’t think that this is a good idea, you don’t have to do it, which, you know, they’re never required to obey illegal orders. Everybody knows that. They’re blurring lines here,” he said.

Truax warned that such messaging places an unfair burden on service members, who face difficult tasks and generally do not want to be involved in political disputes. He said the video could cause “an incredible amount of apprehension” among troops who might second-guess lawful orders, threatening military cohesion.

Echoing these concerns, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted on X that the video “may seem harmless to civilians — but it carries a different weight inside the military.” He emphasized that vague rhetoric and ambiguity can undermine trust and create hesitation within the chain of command. “The military already has clear procedures for handling unlawful orders. It does not need political actors injecting doubt into an already clear chain of command,” Hegseth wrote.

The video has also drawn condemnation from former President Donald Trump, who described it as “seditious behavior,” according to officials.

The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over the role of political messaging directed at the armed forces and the importance of maintaining clear and disciplined military command structures.