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◆ Mixed look for KellyCongress / MembersDefense / Military

Pete Hegseth Reacts as Six Democrats Urge 'Refuse Illegal Orders'

Kelly joined fellow Democrats in a video urging service members to refuse orders that violate the law or Constitution.

Pete Hegseth Reacts as Six Democrats Urge 'Refuse Illegal Orders'
Image · Newsweek

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Outlet credibilityNewsweek75/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 13, 2026
Newsweek
Nov 19, 2025
tl;dr

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized a video in which Democratic lawmakers urged service members to refuse illegal orders. The exchange has drawn Republican criticism and renewed attention to the lawmakers’ proposals to limit domestic National Guard deployments and military strikes without congressional approval.

Community verdict

18 VOTES
How does this story look for
Mark Kelly D · AZ · SEN

Counts every outlet’s report of this story. See all 7

● OPEN
  • Readers of left-leaning coverage: not enough votes yet
  • Readers of right-leaning coverage: 53% good look
Votes cast on this page

Votes cast on this page: ▲ 0 · ◆ 0 · ▼ 0

People in this story

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Mark Kelly
D · AZ · SEN

Senator and participant in the video urging service members to refuse illegal orders.

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Elissa Slotkin
D · MI · SEN

Senator and participant in the video urging service members to refuse illegal orders; sponsor of the No Troops in Our Streets Act.

Slotkin's version of this story ↗
Lindsey Graham
Former U.S. Senator (R-SC)

Senator who challenged the lawmakers to identify the allegedly unlawful orders.

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose administration’s military actions are discussed.

Pete Hegseth
R · Secretary of Defense

Secretary of Defense who responded to the lawmakers’ video.

Representative and participant in the video urging service members to refuse illegal orders.

Eric Schmitt
R · MO · SEN

Senator who criticized the lawmakers’ video.

Representative and participant in the video urging service members to refuse illegal orders.

Representative and participant in the video urging service members to refuse illegal orders.

Jason Crow
D · CO-6

Representative who introduced a resolution opposing Trump’s Caribbean strikes.

Part of a bigger story

6 OUTLETS
Mark Kelly Joins Democrats in Video on Refusing Illegal Orders

Kelly joined five Democratic lawmakers in a video urging military and intelligence personnel to refuse illegal orders. Center outlets mostly describe reactions and political fallout, including criticism of the video and protection for the lawmakers after Trump's threats. Right-leaning outlets frame the video as sedition or insurrection and emphasize criticism and scrutiny of its participants, including a Defense Department review of Kelly.

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