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Rep. Maggie Goodlander: Trump’s Reaction Is Putting Service Members “in an Absolutely Terrible Position”

Representative Maggie Goodlander, one of six House Democrats, urged active-duty personnel to refuse unlawful orders and defended the warning in an interview with Chris Jansing. She said the message aimed to protect service members from being caught between illegal commands and their duty. President Trump called the appeal seditious, prompting Goodlander to say his rhetoric endangers troops by creating confusion. The exchange highlights the fraught debate over civilian leadership and military obedience.

12:56 AM, 11/22/2025Politics
Rep. Maggie Goodlander: Trump’s Reaction Is Putting Service Members “in an Absolutely Terrible Position”

Representative Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, one of six Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a video urging active-duty service members to refuse unlawful orders, spoke with Chris Jansing about why she felt the message was necessary and how she reacted to President Trump labeling the appeal seditious.

Goodlander said the video was intended to protect service members who could find themselves caught between illegal commands and their oath to obey lawful orders. She emphasized that the goal was not to politicize the military, but to make clear that no one should be asked to carry out orders that violate the law or constitutional protections.

"We must protect the men and women in uniform from being placed in an impossible and dangerous position," Goodlander told the interviewer, arguing that clear guidance is vital when civilian leaders issue commands that may conflict with service members' legal obligations.

President Trump's description of the lawmakers' appeal as seditious provoked a sharp response from Goodlander, who said that such rhetoric only increases the risk for military personnel by creating confusion and potential retaliation. The exchange highlights an intensifying debate about the boundaries between civilian political leadership and military obedience, and the responsibilities of elected officials when discussing the role of the armed forces.

Legal and Ethical Stakes

Legal experts and veterans who commented on the conversation noted that service members are required to refuse clearly illegal orders—such as those that would result in war crimes—while remaining subordinate to lawful civilian authority. Goodlander and her colleagues urged clarity from leaders and stressed the need for legal protections and unambiguous guidance to prevent unlawful directives from placing service members at risk.

As the political back-and-forth continues, proponents of the lawmakers' message say it seeks to safeguard service members' safety and the integrity of the military by encouraging lawful conduct, while critics argue it risks politicizing the armed forces. The dispute underscores how charged and consequential discussions about civilian control of the military have become.

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