Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reacted to a video in which six Democrats with military and intelligence backgrounds urged service members to defy “illegal orders” by the Trump administration amid National Guard deployments in U.S. cities and strikes on boats in the Caribbean.

“Threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home,” Senators Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mark Kelly of Arizona, Representatives Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, said in the video titled “Don’t Give Up the Ship.”

Why It Matters

President Donald Trump has faced criticism for sending the National Guard to cities like Chicago and Portland, Oregon, as well as for his campaign targeting alleged narcoterrorists in the Caribbean.

The lawmakers in the video have introduced legislation to limit Trump’s ability to deploy the National Guard domestically or launch military action without congressional approval, called the No Troops in Our Streets Act.

While the video does not directly refer to the legislation or Trump, its call for public servants to refuse orders that break the law highlights partisan divisions, and the clip has been criticized by conservatives as an appeal to defy the president and Hegseth.

What To Know

Hegseth responded to the lawmakers’ video, posted on X by the conservative account Libs of TikTok, with “Stage 4 TDS,” referring to the phrase “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

In the 60-second clip, the group of Democrats urged service members to “refuse illegal orders.”

“We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now. Americans trust their military, but that trust is at risk. 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,” the lawmakers said in the video.

“Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear,” they said. “You can refuse illegal orders…you must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.”

Senator Eric Schmitt, a Missouri Republican, said that the lawmakers were “mad the American people chose Trump and now they’re calling on the Military and Intelligence Community to intervene.”

Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, told Fox News that there was no evidence that Trump or Hegseth had ever issued an unlawful order and said he would formally ask the Democratic lawmakers to tell the country “what orders you think are unlawful.”

Slotkin’s No Troops in Our Streets Act would give Congress the power to block National Guard deployments, according to a statement released November 13.

Meanwhile, Democratic Representative Jason Crow of Colorado introduced a War Powers Continuing Resolution against Trump ordering strikes on drug traffickers in the Caribbean, which he said were “unauthorized and illegal.”

What People Are Saying

Libs of TikTok wrote on X: “Elected Democrats just released a video encouraging members of the military to commit treason and defy orders from Trump and Hegseth.”

Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt wrote on X: “They’re mad the American people chose Trump and now they’re calling on the Military and Intelligence Community to intervene. Sounds a little ‘subversive to democracy’-ish.”

Senator Lindsey Graham said on Fox News: “I find no evidence that President Trump or anyone in your chain of command has issued an unlawful order to you.”

What Happens Next

Graham has said he will write a letter to the lawmakers asking them to explain where and when illegal orders were given, as outlined in the clip, which is likely to continue to provoke debate about Trump’s orders for the National Guard and Caribbean strikes.