Trump blasts Elissa Slotkin video, says Democrats ‘should be in jail right now’

WASHINGTON,DC: President Trump delivered another late-night attack on Democratic lawmakers, this time targeting a recent video in which six Democrats urged military and intelligence officials to refuse illegal orders. 

In a late night Truth Social post, Trump wrote in all caps that the lawmakers “SHOULD BE IN JAIL RIGHT NOW.”

Donald Trump slams video by Elissa Slotkin and fellow Democrats

The post referred to a video released on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 by Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. In it, Slotkin and five other lawmakers warned that “threats to the Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but right here at home.” Each of them took turns reading from a joint statement, telling members of the military and intelligence community, “You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders.”

“We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community,” Slotkin said in the clip. “The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution. Don’t give up the ship.”

Alongside Slotkin, the lawmakers featured in the video were Rep. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Rep. Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, and Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona. All six previously served in the Navy, Army, Air Force, or the Central Intelligence Agency

Trump escalated his criticism two days after the video was posted, calling the message “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR” that should be “punishable by DEATH.” He added, “IT WASN’T, AND IT NEVER WILL BE. IT WAS SEDITION AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, AND SEDITION IS A MAJOR CRIME. THERE CAN BE NO OTHER INTERPRETATION OF WHAT THEY SAID.”

He also complained that these lawmakers were “ROAMING THE FAKE NEWS NETWORKS TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHAT THEY SAID WAS OK,” though it remained unclear which programs he was referring to. None of the lawmakers appeared on major news shows on Saturday.

In a second post that same night, Trump insisted that “MANY GREAT LEGAL SCHOLARS AGREE” with his interpretation. He argued that “THE DEMOCRAT TRAITORS THAT TOLD THE MILITARY TO DISOBEY MY ORDERS, AS PRESIDENT, HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME OF SERIOUS PROPORTION.”

Media responds to remarks by Donald Trump on Elissa Slotkin video

Trump’s late-night posts drew swift reaction across the media landscape. Several commentators called out the severity of his language. CNN anchor Jake Tapper described the comments as “wildly inappropriate and potentially dangerous.”

Conservative media figures offered mixed reactions. Fox News host Sean Hannity entertained the idea of further scrutiny of the lawmakers. On his program Wednesday, he hosted U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who said he believed a federal investigation into the lawmakers was warranted. Hannity appeared sympathetic to Blanche’s position during the segment.

Mediaite first reported on Trump’s late-night posts and the reactions that followed.