Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

‘Why The Hell Did You Put This Video Out?’: Frank Luntz Unloads On Democrats For Telling Military To Defy Trump

Screenshot/Rumble/C-SPAN

Pollster Frank Luntz on Tuesday condemned the six Democratic lawmakers who told service members and intelligence personnel to “refuse illegal orders” from President Donald Trump’s administration.

Trump on Thursday accused the lawmakers who participated in the Nov. 18 video giving the instruction of committing “seditious behavior” that potentially could be “punishable by death,” though he clarified on “The Brian Kilmeade Show” Friday that he was “not threatening death.” Luntz argued on C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal” that the Democrats only posted the video to irritate Trump and that it served no practical purpose.

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“My first reaction was, why the hell did you put this video out? I know you’re trying to poke at him. Of course you don’t obey an illegal order,” Luntz said. “Of course there are standards and processes that our military has followed not just for decades, but for centuries. That’s a given. You’re doing this just to create a political issue.”

“And shame on you. Because there are men and women who are serving in Japan, in Korea, all over the globe, in the Middle East, in other Asian countries,” he continued. “And this is Thanksgiving. And they’re not home. And they’re sacrificing for this country. And you’re playing politics at this point?”

Despite participating in the video and posting it to X, Democratic Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin acknowledged on ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday that she could not cite any illegal order that the Trump administration had issued to justify refusal.

Moreover, the Department of War announced on Monday that the Pentagon was launching an investigation into Democratic Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly after the video. The Department of War’s announcement noted that Kelly’s status as a retired Navy Captain means he remains subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and is eligible for recall as a retiree.

“The Department of War reminds all individuals that military retirees remain subject to the UCMJ for applicable offenses, and federal laws such as 18 U.S.C. § 2387 prohibit actions intended to interfere with the loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces,” the announcement reads. “Any violations will be addressed through appropriate legal channels.”

War Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled the Democratic lawmakers in the video the “Seditious Six” in a Monday X post, singling out Kelly due to his retiree status.

“As was announced, the Department is reviewing his statements and actions, which were addressed directly to all troops while explicitly using his rank and service affiliation—lending the appearance of authority to his words,” Hegseth wrote. “Kelly’s conduct brings discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed appropriately.”