{"id":2573198,"date":"2026-02-24T21:53:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T02:53:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-targeted-over-illegal-orders-video-attend-trump-speech\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T21:55:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T02:55:56","slug":"democrats-targeted-over-illegal-orders-video-attend-trump-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-targeted-over-illegal-orders-video-attend-trump-speech\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrats targeted over \u2018illegal orders\u2019 video attend Trump speech"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdemocrats-targeted-over-illegal-orders-video-attend-trump-speech%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2573198&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Six Democratic lawmakers who were scrutinized by the Justice Department over a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kelly-claims-pattern-of-political-persecution-amid-powell-turmoil\/\" title=\"... claims &#039;pattern&#039; of political persecution amid Powell turmoil\">video urging service members<\/a> to defy \u201cillegal orders\u201d from President Trump attended his State of the Union address. Four House members posed in the chamber before Trump arrived, framing their presence as defiance after prosecutors pursued but <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >ultimately dropped charges related<\/a> to the video.Rep.jason Crow,joined by Maggie Goodlander,Chris Deluzio,and Chrissy Houlahan,publicly asserted that \u201cThe President tried to imprison us. But he failed.\u201d Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin also attended with the procession,saying they felt a duty to honor the office despite disagreements with Trump. The article notes the indictment effort had been dropped,though Kelly remains involved in a Pentagon dispute over retirement pay and rank. Democrats accused the investigation of politicizing free speech, while War Secretary Pete Hegseth argued the Democrats were undermining morale with the video.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Democrats targeted over &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/joe-concha-slams-democrats-who-urged-troops-to-reject-illegal-orders\/\" title=\"Joe Concha slams ... who urged troops to reject \u2018illegal orders\u2019\">illegal orders&#038;rsquo<\/a>; video attend Trump State of the Union<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2515356\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The six congressional Democrats scrutinized by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> for a video encouraging service members to defy &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democratic-congresswoman-doubles-down-on-video-of-liberal-lawmakers-telling-troops-to-question-orders\/\" title=\"Democratic Congresswoman Doubles Down on ... of Liberal Lawmakers Telling Troops to Question Orders\">illegal orders&#038;rdquo<\/a>; from President Donald Trump attended the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/state-of-the-union\/\">State of the Union<\/a> speech on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n<p>Four of the Democrats, each of them House members, posed for a photo in the well of the chamber before Trump arrived, framing their presence as an act of defiance after a federal prosecutor unsuccessfully pursued charges against them over the video.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4469716\/thomas-massie-roundup-bayer-herbicide-liability-trump-order\/\">Massie says US &#8216;under siege&#8217; by Roundup maker Bayer to avoid herbicide liability<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4469901\/house-democrat-whip-skip-union-address\/\">State of the Union: No. 2 Democrat Katherine Clark bucks Trump&#8217;s national pitch<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4469480\/tony-gonzales-will-not-resign-alleged-staffer-affair\/\">Tony Gonzales won&#8217;t resign after explicit text messages with dead staffer exposed<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;The President tried to imprison us. But he failed,&rdquo; Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepJasonCrow\/status\/2026473273739948055?s=20\">posted<\/a> on X, appearing alongside Reps. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA).<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Instead, we&rsquo;ll be in the People&rsquo;s House &ndash; staring right at him and holding him accountable,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t give up the ship.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The President tried to imprison us. But he failed.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, we&rsquo;ll be in the People&rsquo;s House&mdash;staring right at him and holding him accountable.<\/p>\n<p>Don&rsquo;t give up the ship. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4RI6S9SbR8\">pic.twitter.com\/4RI6S9SbR8<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Rep. Jason Crow (@RepJasonCrow) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepJasonCrow\/status\/2026473273739948055?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 25, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The two other Democrats, Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), entered with the procession of senators, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4455884\/senate-democrats-weigh-skipping-trump-state-of-the-union-speech\/\">previously telling<\/a> the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that they felt an obligation to honor the office of the president even if they disagreed with Trump&rsquo;s actions.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4469774\/house-gop-2026-message-state-of-the-union-blitz\/\"><strong>BACK TO BASICS: HOUSE GOP REFOCUSES 2026 MESSAGE WITH STATE OF THE UNION BLITZ<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., left, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., center, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., right, are seen before President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/live-blog\/trump-state-of-the-union-2026-live-updates\/\"><strong>LIVE UPDATES: TRUMP DELIVERS 2026 STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Their attendance comes after a federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., dropped the indictment effort on Tuesday. Kelly, for his part, is still fighting a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4456345\/judge-blocks-pentagon-attempt-reduce-mark-kelly-retired-military-rank\/\">legal battle<\/a> with the Pentagon after it moved to dock his retirement pay and lower his rank.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats accused the Trump administration of a politicized investigation meant to chill free speech, while War Secretary Pete Hegseth argued that the Democrats were willfully attempting to undermine morale with the video.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democrats tied to &#8216;illegal orders&#8217; video at Trump SOTU<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2573199,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26056079642615-e1771987053839.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[3685,74510,3634,50531],"class_list":["post-2573198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-democrats","tag-illegal-orders-2","tag-trump","tag-video-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26056079642615-e1771987053839.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573198","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2573198"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573198\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2573202,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573198\/revisions\/2573202"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2573199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2573198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2573198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2573198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}