📢 Reject Presidential Intimidation Now: Protect the Oath

People Power United stands with our military members of Congress defending the Constitution and the rule of law. No president can order the military to break the law.

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Friends,

Defending the Constitution Is Not a Crime — It’s the Duty of Every American and Every Service Member

In response to the direct attacks by President Donald Trump on former military members now serving in Congress, People Power United unequivocally condemns his threats of death against lawmakers who merely reminded the United States military of a fundamental truth: every service member swears an oath to protect and defend the Constitution—not any individual—and is legally and morally obligated to refuse illegal orders. No president has the authority to weaponize fear, intimidate lawmakers, or demand blind obedience from the military. Trump’s threats are an attack on the rule of law, on constitutional civilian oversight of the armed forces, and on the safety of duly elected officials. This is also a direct attack on American families from all walks of life—families whose sons, daughters, partners, and loved ones serve this nation with honor and expect their commander-in-chief to uphold the Constitution, not endanger democracy. We stand unequivocally with those who speak the truth: the military must reject unlawful commands, and no president is above the Constitution.

At the heart of our democracy is a principle older than any one administration: the United States military owes allegiance to the Constitution, not to a single political leader. This principle is not symbolic or ceremonial—it is the backbone of constitutional governance. When former President Trump demands unthinking loyalty and threatens leaders for reminding troops of their oath, he is attacking the core safeguard that protects our democracy from authoritarianism.

To understand why service members must follow the Constitution—and refuse unlawful orders—it’s essential to lay out the legal framework governing the military’s duty to the rule of law.

📜 The U.S. Constitution (Supremacy Clause & Oath of Office)

• Article VI, Clause 2 (Supremacy Clause) makes the Constitution and laws made under it supreme over any individual, including the President.

• Every service member swears an oath not to a president, but to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

• ➡️ This means the Constitution—not any commander—is the ultimate authority.

📜 The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)

Article 92 — Failure to Obey a Lawful Order

• Service members are required to obey lawful orders.

• But this requirement explicitly excludes unlawful orders—which must be refused.

Articles 90, 91, and 92 establish clear boundaries:

• You must obey lawful commands.

• You must refuse unlawful orders.

• You can be court-martialed for carrying out illegal orders.

📜 The Nuremberg Principles (International Law)

After WWII, the world concluded a critical moral truth:

• ➡️ “Following orders” is not a defense for committing illegal or unconstitutional acts.

• These principles are embedded in U.S. military doctrine and training, especially concerning:

  • civilian protection,

  • unlawful detention,

  • torture,

  • excessive force,

  • and violations of constitutional rights.

📜 The Department of Defense Law of War Manual

The DoD instructs service members that orders violating the law of war must be disobeyed, including orders involving:

• targeting civilians,

• unlawful domestic military action,

• torture,

• indefinite detention without due process,

• violations of constitutional protections.

📜 The Posse Comitatus Act (1878)

This law prohibits using the military as domestic law enforcement unless explicitly authorized by Congress.

Orders directing active-duty troops to police, arrest, or suppress Americans without lawful justification would be illegal.

📜 The Insurrection Act — Limited, Not Unlimited

The Insurrection Act allows activation of troops in very narrow circumstances—but:

• ➡️ It does not authorize violating civil liberties or overriding the Constitution.

• Any order directing troops to:

  • target political opponents,

  • suppress peaceful assemblies,

  • seize polling places,

  • ignore court rulings,

  • would be illegal and must be rejected.

📜 U.S. Military Training & Ethical Codes

Every branch trains service members to:

• refuse unlawful orders,

• maintain civilian control of the military,

• protect constitutional rights,

• uphold the rule of law even under political pressure.

✔️ Bottom Line

U.S. troops are legally and morally obligated to refuse illegal orders.

The President’s command authority is powerful—but not absolute. It is limited by:

• the Constitution,

• federal law,

• the UCMJ,

• the law of war,

• treaties,

• and the ethical duty to safeguard the rights of the American people.

No president can order the military to break the law.

No service member can legally follow such an order.

When elected officials remind our troops of this truth, they are not undermining national security—they are defending it.

Today’s Calls to Action

• Click here to sign our petition to Congress: Protect the Oath: Reject Presidential Intimidation Now.

• Click here to Tell the Six Democrats Trump Threatened: We Have Your Back

• Click here to donate to Know-Your-Rights billboards for Occupied Cities

BONUS

• Click here to Stop Skyrocketing Costs and Chaos — Pass Medicare for All

• Click here to Tell NBC: Stand With Seth Meyers — Don’t Let Trump Kill Free Speech

• Click here to Reverse SNAP Cuts

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Together, we can protect and empower those we love, champion our rights, freedoms, and democracy, hold our leaders accountable to the people’s will, and inspire voters to make a meaningful difference.

Laurie Woodward Garcia (paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests), People Power United

Laurie joining other activists and organizations to drop thousands of petitions off to Congress for reforms to the Supreme Court

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