Video of Hegseth Telling Military Not to Follow 'Illegal Orders' Resurfaces

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published Dec 03, 2025 at 02:51 AM EST updated Dec 03, 2025 at 04:50 AM EST


A video of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly saying there must be "consequences" for carrying out unlawful orders has resurfaced as the Pentagon battles six Democratic lawmakers who urged U.S. service personnel not to follow illegal directives.

"If you're doing something that is just completely unlawful and ruthless, then there is a consequence for that," Hegseth said in the clip from a talk the now-Pentagon chief gave at a conservative forum in 2016. "That’s why the military said it won't follow unlawful orders from their commander-in-chief."

Why It Matters

Hegseth has attacked six Democrats for a video they published last month. Senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly appeared in the clip alongside Representatives Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan and Jason Crow to urge active service members to disregard any illegal orders handed down from the commander-in-chief.

President Donald Trump accused the lawmakers of "seditious behavior" and Hegseth called the video "despicable, reckless, and false." In a separate statement, the Pentagon said last month it was launching an investigation into Kelly, a retired Navy captain, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). The UCMJ is federal criminal law that applies to service members around the world. The Pentagon said it could recall Kelly to active duty for a court-martial under the UCMJ.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/video-pete-hegseth-telling-military-not-follow-illegal-orders-resurfaces-11146747

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Pete Hegseth says he’s going to court-martial me for saying the same exact thing he said 9 years ago. What changed for Pete? Well to start, he spends all day thinking about how he can suck up to Trump. When Trump says jump, he says how high.

— Captain Mark Kelly (@captmarkkelly.bsky.social) 2025-12-03T03:01:59.534Z

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Captain Mark Kelly
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Pete Hegseth says he’s going to court-martial me for saying the same exact thing he said 9 years ago. What changed for Pete? Well to start, he spends all day thinking about how he can suck up to Trump. When Trump says jump, he says how high.
9:59 PM · Dec 2, 2025

[yardwork]

1. "Completely unlawful and ruthless" - like murdering unarmed fishermen in the ocean.

[FakeNoose]

12. Got him!

I doubt if Hogsbreath even remembers saying this ....

[Lovie777]

2. If I'm correct he said this in 2016..................

guess who was president.

Republicans truly believe they are above the law.

[JohnnyRingo]

3. Funny how that works.

By mid 2017 he was probably wearing a neck brace for the whiplash.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Yup - 2016 (during the election year though so Obama was still in office and he of course attacked Obama back then)

Hegseth appeared at a "Liberty Forum" talk that spring.

The clip -

A take on this from Mourning Schmoe -

[sinkingfeeling]

4. This is the same guy who wants to court martial Sen. Kelly for saying that.

[BOSSHOG]

5. "There must be consequences"

Oh lil Peter that’s so 2016 ish. Republicans don’t got no consequences. They just comprise the party of responsibility. The title is for show only. Not for actually, you know, taking responsibility.

[chicoescuela]

7. Must be fake news my friends . Sarcasm

[surfered]

8. Except for being stupid, the man has no consistency.

[IronLionZion]

9. MABA Make America Bootlickers Again

[hurple]

10. Now, now... we all know only democratic presidents issue unlawful orders

Right?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

11. That video would be fun to use if Hegseth tries to court martial Senator Kelly

[marble falls]

13. His fingers were crossed.