Just follow orders or obey the law? What US troops told us about refusing illegal commands

By Charli Carpenter, Professor of Political Science, UMass Amherst
Geraldine Santoso, Ph.D. Student in Political Science, UMass Amherst

As the Trump administration carries out what many observers say are illegal military strikes against vessels in the Caribbean allegedly smuggling drugs, six Democratic members of Congress issued a video on Nov. 18, 2025, telling the military “You can refuse illegal orders” and “You must refuse illegal orders.”

The lawmakers have all served either in the…

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