Derek Thibeault, chairman of the Nashua Democratic City Committee (second from left), with supporters of Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) at Library Hill in Nashua on Nov. 22. Telegraph photo by CHRISTOPHER ROBERSON

NASHUA – Granite State Democrats rushed to the aid of Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) as she and five colleagues are facing a death threat from President Donald Trump for releasing a video telling military personnel that they “must refuse ‘illegal orders.'”

Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice states: “A general order or regulation is lawful unless it is contrary to the Constitution, the laws of the United States, or lawful superior orders or for some other reason is beyond the authority of the official issuing it.”

Goodlander was joined in the video by fellow Democrats U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Missouri, Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Congressman Jason Crow of Colorado and Congressman Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania.

Slotkin posted the 90-second video on X on Nov. 18. To date, it has received 17.6 million views.

Infuriated by the video, Trump posted on Truth Social that the federal officials displayed

Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) and five of her colleagues appeared in a Nov. 18 video telling military personnel that they “must refuse ‘illegal orders.’” Courtesy photo/X

“SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH.”

On the afternoon of Nov. 21, Goodlander’s Concord office received a bomb threat, which turned out not to be credible. Despite the dangers, she and her five colleagues are not backing down.

“We are veterans and national security professionals who love this country and swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime and we intend to keep it. No threat, intimidation or call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation,” they said in a joint statement. “What’s most telling is that the president considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law. Every American must unite and condemn the president’s calls for our murder and political violence. Our service members should know that we have their backs as they fulfill their oath to the Constitution and obligation to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our duty.”

Derek Thibeault, chairman of the Nashua Democratic City Committee, said threatening the lives of Goodlander and her colleagues will not be tolerated.

“Congresswoman Goodlander has dedicated her career to public service, including her time in Naval Intelligence, the rule of law and strengthening our democratic institutions,” he said. “We stand firmly with her and with all public servants who face intimidation simply for doing their jobs. Violence and threats undermine the very foundation of our democracy. We call on leaders of all parties to reject such rhetoric and to reaffirm that political disagreements must be resolved through debate, dialogue and at the ballot box.”

Raymond Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, said Trump’s threats are a “disgrace to our democracy.”

“Congresswoman Goodlander and fellow lawmakers stepped up to serve this country and protect our Constitution,” he said. “Trump’s reckless calls for death against lawmakers who fought to protect this country are an attack on the core ideals our service members swore to uphold. Any leader who bows down to Trump and supports his dangerous, extremist rhetoric is complicit in his violence.”

State Rep. Laura Telerski (D-Nashua) said Republicans should also denounce Trump’s actions.

“This president tries to silence dissent with fear, intimidation and threats of violence,” she said. “Calling for political violence, in any form, is simply unacceptable.”

The New Hampshire GOP wasted no time delivering its harsh criticism as State Senate President Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry), a U.S. Army veteran, called for Goodlander’s resignation.

“The idea that a sitting member of Congress would lend her name and face to a video telling troops they can pick and choose which orders they’ll follow is outrageous,” she said. “It’s reckless and it undermines military discipline. Our military is not a prop. You don’t drag service members into your political games. You don’t suggest, even indirectly, that they should ignore orders because you don’t like the president. As a veteran, and as a mother with a daughter in the Army Reserves, I find it offensive and dangerous.”

Carson also maintained that Goodlander has violated her oath of office.

“If Congresswoman Goodlander thinks it’s acceptable to tell service members to disregard orders, she has absolutely no business serving in Congress,” she said. “She should resign and at the very least, she should apologize to every man and woman who has ever taken the oath she chose to trivialize. The chain of command isn’t optional. The oath isn’t optional. Elected officials don’t get to play footsie with ideas that undermine both.”

State Sen. Kevin Avard (R-Nashua) said Goodlander used military service members as pawns in a “reckless stunt” against the Trump administration.

“This video creates a doubt in the chain of command with our service members, purely for politics,” he said. “Our men and women in uniform do not need a lecture from her on fulfilling their duty to the nation and the Constitution. She can’t even point to an actual order that she considers illegal. She needs to apologize or resign.”

James MacEachern, chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, demanded that Goodlander retract her comments as they promote treason.

“Maggie Goodlander’s behavior is reckless and beneath the office she holds,” he said. “This is what happens when partisan activists get elected. When Democrats are in power, they demand absolute obedience. When they’re out of power, they’re only interested in chaos. Encouraging insubordination in the United States military because your party lost an election is embarrassing at a national level.”