The Lincoln Project21 Nov 2025

Veterans to Trump: We Don’t Obey Illegal Orders, You Wannabe Dictator

Rick Wilson breaks down the political firestorm ignited by the viral military veterans ad, reminding Americans—and the armed forces—never to obey illegal orders. This ad (and Trump's subsequent meltdown) is Rick's Elephant in the Room this week. The veterans-PSA ad featuring Elissa Slotkin (Senator and former intelligence officer), Mark Kelly (Senator and former Navy pilot), Jason Crow (Representative and Army veteran), Chris Deluzio (Representative and Navy veteran), Chrissy Houlahan (Representative and Air Force veteran), and Maggie Goodlander (Representative and Air Force veteran) urged U.S. service members to refuse illegal orders. The message was standard constitutional duty; the fallout was anything but. Within hours, Donald Trump detonated across social media, calling the ad “treason,” attacking veterans, and confirming—accidentally—exactly why the video mattered. Rick walks through everything that unfolded afterward: the furious MAGA messaging spiral, the stunned reaction inside the Pentagon, the immediate backlash from veterans’ organizations nationwide, and the growing panic among House Republicans suddenly asked whether they’d support Trump’s demand for total obedience. Rick unpacks the escalating tension, the legal implications of Trump’s statements, and why this episode may mark a turning point in the 2026 national security and rule-of-law debate. Buckle up—this one touched every live wire in American politics.
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Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.

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