Posted For: Rotorblade
The political left appears to be betting that accusations of sedition will help sway the American public and undermine President Donald Trump, and recent actions suggest they are fully committed to that strategy.
The latest controversy began with what critics have dubbed the “Seditious Six,” a group of Democrat lawmakers who released a video message addressed to U.S. service members. In the video, they urged troops not to “give up the ship” and suggested that military personnel consider disobeying orders they personally judge to be unlawful. The message was widely interpreted as a response to actions by the Trump administration aimed at stopping the flow of dangerous drugs into the United States, including military-led operations targeting drug-smuggling vessels near Venezuela.
The lawmakers involved were Sens. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), along with Reps. Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-6), Maggie Goodlander (NH-2), and Jason Crow (CO-6). The video quickly drew sharp criticism from the White House.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned that the messaging could create serious discipline problems within the armed forces. “The sanctity of our military rests on the chain of command,” Leavitt said. “If that chain of command is broken, it can lead to people getting killed. It can lead to chaos, and that’s what these members of Congress are essentially encouraging.”
We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community.
The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.
Don’t give up the ship. pic.twitter.com/N8lW0EpQ7r
— Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) November 18, 2025
Sen. Kelly, a retired Navy captain and former combat pilot, faced particularly strong backlash for his role. A Pentagon spokesperson later confirmed that Kelly is now the subject of an official command investigation related to the incident.
Rather than backing down, activists on the left appear to be escalating their efforts. New billboards have begun appearing across Florida, including near major military installations, urging service members to “obey only lawful orders.” The signs quote language from the Manual for Courts-Martial and direct viewers to the website defiance.org/troops.
“Obey only lawful orders,” the billboard says in Tampa, near the MacDill Air Force Base. https://t.co/ZvO9B3DTdO
— 10 Tampa Bay News (@10TampaBay) December 26, 2025
The campaign is linked to two progressive organizations, Defiance.org and Whistleblower Aid. Defiance.org describes itself as a group dedicated to “peaceful, lawful, defiant action” against what it calls authoritarian leadership, while Whistleblower Aid says it supports individuals who expose wrongdoing. Miles Taylor, a former DHS chief of staff under President Trump and a co-founder of Defiance.org, defended the effort by saying it is meant to remind troops that even the commander-in-chief is bound by the Constitution and the law.
At least one billboard has been placed near MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, with another spotted in Doral, Florida, near the Trump Doral property. Critics argue the intent behind the campaign is unmistakable: to disrupt President Trump’s agenda by encouraging doubt and resistance within the ranks of the military.
Despite these efforts, recent polling indicates that more than 60 percent of Americans support the use of military force against suspected drug traffickers, suggesting broad public backing for the administration’s approach.