Rep. Jason Crow on Face the Nation: Warns Presidential Rhetoric Is Fueling Threats (Nov. 23, 2025)

Representative Jason Crow (D-CO) appeared on Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan on Nov. 23, 2025, to discuss a recorded video he and five other lawmakers released urging service members to refuse unlawful orders. The interview addressed a series of threats Crow says followed the video — including a bomb threat to his Aurora, Colorado office and violent calls to his family — and debated whether the message could undermine military discipline.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And we're joined here in studio by Colorado Congressman Jason Crow, who is one of the six lawmakers who released a recorded video earlier last week urging service members to defy illegal and unlawful orders. Good morning.

JASON CROW: Good morning.

MARGARET BRENNAN: That video prompted some strong rhetoric from the President. I also understand there was a bomb threat against your Aurora office and threats against your family. Your office released samples of the calls:

UNKNOWN CALLER 1: I hope you all get murdered.

UNKNOWN CALLER 2: You ain't an American, f*****, you're a communist

MARGARET BRENNAN: Were those calls made to your office? Are any of these threats credible?

REP. JASON CROW: We don't know yet; we're taking them seriously. It's deeply disturbing when the President uses rhetoric about execution, hanging and arrest — language that people hear and sometimes act on. We've seen a pattern where incendiary language is followed by real-world consequences. I lived through January 6 and saw a similar dynamic. The President has used this kind of rhetoric for years without regard for how it lands.

MARGARET BRENNAN: The President has posted on social media and later walked back some language, saying sedition has historically carried capital punishment. Before your appearance he posted: "the traitors that told the military to disobey my orders, should be in jail right now... It was sedition at the highest level." He referenced military courts and the DOJ. What does that mean to you?

REP. CROW: We don't know what he intends. His rhetoric is reckless and inciteful. Two things are at play: first, the President threatening members of Congress with arrest or worse for political disagreement; second, when members of Congress remind service members of their constitutional duty to refuse unlawful orders, the President responds with threats. That speaks to his disregard for the Constitution and the rule of law, and it underscores why we raised this issue.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Some House Republicans — including veterans — released their own video criticizing yours. Here are excerpts:

REP. JACK BERGMAN (R-MI): Troops. Listen up. Any service member who refuses a lawful order is subject to court martial for violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

REP. AUGUST PFLUGER (R-TX): We study what's lawful and what's not lawful, and the Democrats' stunt insinuating that there are illegal or unconstitutional orders. It's downright dangerous.

REP. SCOTT PERRY (R-PA): It is corrosive. It is meant to weaken our country and weaken the military.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you worry that your message weakens the military?

REP. CROW: We were explicit: we discussed unlawful orders, not lawful ones. Many critics supporting the President know the difference and are mischaracterizing our message. Our aim was to start a conversation about dangerous rhetoric and potential unlawful uses of the military — not to erode discipline.

MARGARET BRENNAN: What unlawful uses concern you?

REP. CROW: We've heard the President threaten actions that, if carried out, would be manifestly unlawful: deploying troops to intimidate voters at polling stations, directing force against peaceful protesters, or orders that would target civilians. If a young service member is handed a manifestly unlawful order in the moment and hasn't been trained to recognize it, we've failed them. That's why we issued the guidance: to remind service members of their legal and constitutional obligations before a crisis.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Military practice is that troops with legal questions consult the staff judge advocate. Were you telling lower-ranking troops to bypass that process?

REP. CROW: Absolutely not. I did three combat deployments and regularly trained soldiers on the law of war and how to tell lawful from unlawful orders. You cannot wait until a split-second decision in combat to teach this. The video was meant to prompt discussion and preparedness, not to replace military legal counsel.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Critics say lawmakers haven’t done enough oversight — no hearings on Venezuela or certain National Guard deployments. Why issue a public message before exhaustive congressional oversight?

REP. CROW: Those are related but separate issues. We have pushed for briefings and hearings, but access has been limited. Congressional oversight is essential — decisions to use military force should be debated in Congress. At the same time, we have a duty to remind service members of their obligations when public rhetoric raises the risk of unlawful orders.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Thank you, Congressman Crow.

Note: This is an edited transcript of a broadcast interview. Quotes were abridged for clarity and flow.