Slotkin Says Trump Is Using an 'Authoritarian' Playbook to Intimidate Critics — She Defends Video Urging Troops Not To Follow Illegal Orders

Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat and former CIA analyst, says the Trump administration is borrowing tactics used by authoritarian regimes — combining legal pressure and public intimidation — to silence critics. Slotkin, who is under investigation after appearing in a 90‑second video urging service members not to follow unlawful orders, described the measures as a deliberate effort to chill dissent.

"They’re now using a well‑worn playbook that employs physical intimidation and legal intimidation to get, A, you to shut up, and B, for other people thinking of criticising the president on such issues to be dissuaded from doing so," Slotkin told the Guardian in a phone interview. "It’s absolutely a strategy well used in other countries and other authoritarian governments. As a CIA officer I’ve served in places like this, I’ve studied places like this my entire life, and Trump is sadly using that playbook in the United States right now."

Slotkin, 49, served three tours in Iraq with U.S. forces before moving into national security roles at the Pentagon and the White House under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. She entered electoral politics in 2018, helped Democrats retake the House, won reelection in 2020 and 2022, and in 2024 captured an open Senate seat in Michigan. She delivered the Democrats’ rebuttal to the president’s joint congressional address last year.

Video, Backlash and Legal Scrutiny

In November, Slotkin and five other congressional Democrats — all with military or intelligence backgrounds — released a short video citing the Uniform Code of Military Justice and urging service members to refuse orders that violate law or the Constitution. The message drew a harsh response from the president, who called it "treasonous" and amplified social media posts that included violent rhetoric against the participants.

In the aftermath, several officials have faced administrative and legal scrutiny. A Pentagon action attempting to alter the retired rank of Senator Mark Kelly has prompted a lawsuit from Kelly challenging the move as unconstitutional retaliation. Separately, a Justice Department official has sought an interview with Slotkin as part of the inquiry. Slotkin says she organized the video after receiving numerous private messages from service members and members of the National Guard with questions and concerns about orders they were being given.

"The president’s completely over‑the‑top response is exactly why we felt the need to issue that kind of a video. He literally threatened us with investigation, arrest and death and he did it over a dozen times," Slotkin said. "That is the president of the United States calling for someone to have corporal punishment and that kind of leader in that seat is exactly why we felt the need to send a message to the troops."

Domestic Agenda: A Housing Emergency

Slotkin has brought a national security lens to domestic issues. She has proposed an "economic war plan" for the middle class and introduced legislation to declare a national housing emergency, cut regulatory barriers, and invoke the Defense Production Act to accelerate construction of 4 million homes. Her plan would temporarily waive laws and rules that slow development, reward communities that streamline permitting, and direct domestic industries to prioritize materials such as lumber, steel and modular housing components.

Slotkin points to sharp increases in housing costs — home prices reportedly up nearly 55% since 2020 and rents up more than 30% nationally — and a shortfall of roughly 4 million housing units as evidence that bolder federal action is needed. She argues the core problem is supply: regulatory and cost barriers make it difficult for builders to produce sufficient, affordable single‑family housing.

Political Context And Why It Matters

Slotkin criticized the administration’s focus on foreign military action, saying it has diverted attention from pressing domestic issues. She also warned that attacks on critics and the erosion of democratic norms have direct effects on everyday freedoms: "If the rules of our democracy get broken or get rigged, fundamentally that will affect our freedom here at home," she said.

Within her own party, Slotkin has urged a more assertive stance, contending the key divide is between lawmakers who view the president as an existential threat to democracy and those who prefer a wait‑and‑see approach. She plans a speech next month arguing that defending democratic rules is a kitchen‑table issue that affects ordinary Americans.

Why This Story Matters: The dispute raises questions about the balance between national security, military obedience, free speech, and political retaliation — and highlights how domestic policy priorities like housing can intersect with broader concerns about democratic norms.