U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks (D-NY), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced a measure on Tuesday that would bar President Donald Trump from continuing to order military strikes against alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers in the Caribbean without approval from Congress. More than 80 people — characterized by the administration as “narco-terrorists” — reportedly have been killed in the strikes.
Meeks said: “There is no evidence that the people being killed are an imminent threat to the United States of America.”
A number of Republicans are also speaking against the strikes including Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), a U.S. Air Force veteran who said: “If we’re going to go to war with Venezuela, the president needs to make his case, and they’ve done zero on this.” Bacon added: “If he wants to continue the operations on these boats, he should get authorization.”
Six Democratic members of Congress — U.S. Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Reps. Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan, and Jason Crow, all of whom have served in the U.S. military or intelligence community — are now urging active members in service to refuse “illegal” orders.
In a video (below), former CIA officer Slotkin addressed those currently active in the military and intelligence community and said: “We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now.” Former Air Force officer Houlahan, added, “Americans trust their military.” Former Navy officer Deluzio added, “But that trust is at risk.”
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, the former astronaut, fighter pilot and retired U.S. Navy Captain, said: “This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens.” Together, all six lawmakers remind those in service that they took an oath — “like us” — to “protect and defend the Constitution.”
Kelly added: “Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.” Deluzio said: “You must refuse illegal orders.”
Slotkin asserted that “no one has to carry out orders that violate the law” or the Constitution. Kelly added, “Your vigilance is critical.” Slotkin said, “We need you to stand up for our laws, our Constitution, and who we are as Americans.” In a compilation of cuts, the six lawmakers plead with those in service: “Don’t give up the ship.”
Commenters criticizing the lawmakers called the suggested insubordination a recipe for a coup, warning that it presented a potentially life-threatening challenge to an effective chain of command. Another commenter posited that every soldier would have to go to law school in order to determine which orders were “illegal” before making a decision.
This is the law. Passed down from our Founding Fathers, to ensure our military upholds its oath to the Constitution — not a king. Given you’re directing much of a military policy, you should buff up on the Uniformed Code of Military Justice. https://t.co/X64Qnzb5br
— Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) November 19, 2025
Trump’s White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and U.S. Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller responded to the video: “Democrat lawmakers are now openly calling for insurrection.”
Sen. Slotkin replied to Miller: “This is the law. Passed down from our Founding Fathers, to ensure our military upholds its oath to the Constitution — not a king. Given you’re directing much of a military policy, you should buff up on the Uniformed Code of Military Justice.”