A video released this week by several Democratic lawmakers telling members of the U.S. military that they may defy “illegal” orders from President Donald Trump continued drawing reactions on Wednesday, including from White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller.
Miller addressed the video during an appearance on “The Will Cain Show” on Fox News, where he described the lawmakers’ message as “a general call for rebellion.”
The video, posted Tuesday on X by Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, featured Slotkin and five other Democratic lawmakers with prior military or intelligence backgrounds.
In the message, they said that “threats to the Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but right here at home,” and stated that military and intelligence community members could “refuse illegal orders.”
The group included Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and House members Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, and Jason Crow of Colorado.
Miller said the message constituted an attempt to undermine the authority of the commander-in-chief.
“It is insurrection, plainly, directly,” Miller said.
“Without question.”
He added that the lawmakers were telling members of the CIA and the armed services that they had “the duty and the obligation to defy orders of the commander-in-chief.”
Miller’s comments followed the broader discussion prompted by the video, which circulated widely after its release.
The remarks came during his interview on Fox News on Wednesday afternoon, where he said the statements were intended to influence military personnel regarding future directives from the president.
The editorial board of the New York Post also addressed the video on Wednesday, writing that the lawmakers were “encouraging troops to disobey their commanders.”
The board wrote that the message relied on statements from the participating lawmakers implying that the administration was directing military or intelligence personnel against American citizens.
In the video, Slotkin and the other lawmakers referenced concerns about constitutional obligations.
The participating House members said, “Our laws are clear: You can refuse illegal orders.”
The New York Post editorial described the message as an attempt to raise political support by referencing the lawmakers’ prior military service and suggesting that service members were being asked to violate the Constitution.
The reactions continued on Wednesday as the distribution of the video drew national attention.
Miller said the message was an effort to prompt active-duty personnel to disregard presidential authority. “It’s a general call for rebellion from the CIA and the armed services of the United States,” he said.
The video did not cite specific orders or actions. It was released one day after Slotkin’s statements on X, where she said “threats to the Constitution” could originate within the country.
The lawmakers did not identify particular directives from the administration that they believed violated the law.
The dispute prompted questions about the role of elected officials in providing public guidance to military personnel.
Miller said the lawmakers’ statements represented an attempt to influence service members by suggesting that they might be ordered to violate federal law.
His comments on Fox News followed the initial report by Mediaite, which first noted his reaction.
The New York Post editorial board wrote that it considered the message a “dangerous game,” adding that the statements implied misconduct without citing specific actions.
The board also wrote that the lawmakers should face unspecified “consequences.”
The release of the video continued to prompt discussion across political media outlets throughout Wednesday, as officials and commentators weighed in on the lawmakers’ statements and the responses that followed.
