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

2025-12-03 02:51
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Video of Hegseth Telling Military Not to Follow 'Illegal Orders' Resurfaces

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says in the video that there must be "consequences" for carrying out unlawful orders.

Ellie CookBy Ellie Cook

Senior Defense Reporter

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A video of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly saying there must be "consequences" for carrying out unlawful orders has resurfaced.

"If you're doing something that is just completely unlawful and ruthless, then there is a consequence for that," Hegseth said in the video from 2016.

"That’s why the military said it won't follow unlawful orders from their commander-in-chief."

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It comes as Hegseth has attacked Democratic lawmakers for urging U.S. service personnel not to follow illegal directives. He accused six lawmakers of spreading "despicable, reckless and false information," and ordered an investigation into Senator Mark Kelly.

Responding to the video, Kelly wrote on X: "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."

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This is a developing story. More to follow.

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