Donald Trump escalated a political confrontation on 20 November 2025 by demanding the arrest of six Democratic lawmakers and amplifying a supporter's call that they be 'hung', after they released a short video urging service personnel to refuse unlawful orders.
The video, titled 'Don't Give Up The Ship', was posted by Senator Elissa Slotkin and features six former service and intelligence officers now in Congress, urging members of the military and intelligence community to remember their oath to the Constitution and refuse orders that would be unlawful. The clip, roughly 60 seconds long, repeatedly states: 'You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders.'
