Slotkin goes silent on past “shoot at legs” warning after D.C. Guard shooting — questions rise over Trump military orders
Sen. Elissa Slotkin declined to discuss previous warnings that former President Trump might order troops to fire on civilians, after a deadly Washington, D.C., National Guard shooting renewed scrutiny and raised questions about military orders and federal inquiries.
- Limited comment: Sen. Slotkin would not answer reporters’ questions about prior warnings tied to Trump and the military (Fox News).
- Source of alarm: Her warning referenced claims in Mark Esper’s memoir that Trump asked whether troops could “just ‘shoot at their legs’” during 2020 protests (Fox News).
- FBI inquiry: Slotkin and five other Democrats who urged service members to refuse unlawful orders disclosed an FBI counterterrorism inquiry after posting a video (Michigan Public; YouTube).
- Timing: Her silence followed a targeted attack in Washington that left a National Guard member dead and prompted terrorism charges (Fox News).
Background: Trump, Esper and the “shoot at their legs” allegation
In his memoir A Sacred Oath, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper wrote that then-President Trump discussed deploying the 82nd Airborne into Washington during the 2020 George Floyd protests and asked whether troops could “just ‘shoot at their legs.’” Slotkin and other lawmakers have cited Esper’s account as a basis for concern about potential misuse of military force against civilians. The claim is reported in contemporary coverage (Fox News).
The video and the lawmakers’ message to the military
In early November 2025, Slotkin joined Senator Mark Kelly and Representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan and Maggie Goodlander in a short video urging active-duty military and intelligence personnel to refuse any orders that would break the law or the Constitution. The lawmakers cited the Uniform Code of Military Justice and said service members have a legal duty to disobey unlawful commands. Reporting and the original video are available (Fox News; Michigan Public; YouTube).
Trump’s reaction and the FBI inquiry
Former President Trump responded online by calling the lawmakers’ video “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH.” The phrasing drew alarm; the White House later stated Trump did not literally mean lawmakers should be executed. After the video, Slotkin and the other lawmakers disclosed that the FBI had opened a counterterrorism inquiry and sought interviews, amid an uptick in threats and public pressure (reporting: Michigan Public; YouTube).
Slotkin’s silence when pressed
Reporters pressed Slotkin about her previous warnings that President Trump might order troops to shoot at civilians; she declined to comment. Her office did not respond to multiple follow-up requests. The silence drew attention because it coincided with the widely reported Washington shooting (Fox News).
Personal safety and threats
Slotkin says the fallout from the video has put her and her family at risk. She has reported receiving a wave of death threats, a bomb threat at her family farm, and has increased security. Slotkin told a local outlet that the former president’s response underscored the need for the warning: “He believes in using the federal government against his perceived adversaries, and he’s not afraid to use the arms of the government against people he disagrees with.” (Source: Michigan Public.)
The Washington, D.C., shooting and the accused
On Wednesday, a National Guard member was fatally shot in Washington, D.C. Authorities identified the accused shooter as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national and a former member of a counterterrorism team in Afghanistan. The FBI said the attack appeared targeted and is being investigated as an act of terrorism; Lakanwal faces first-degree murder charges. Officials say motives remain unclear and there is no public evidence linking the shooting to the political dispute over the lawmakers’ video (Fox News).
Investigative questions and open lines of inquiry
- Verification: Are there contemporaneous records or witnesses that confirm the precise words Esper attributes to Trump? Esper’s memoir remains the primary public account, and independent verification is limited (Fox News).
- Investigative rationale: How did the FBI determine the lawmakers’ video warranted a counterterrorism inquiry rather than a different investigative track? The bureau has not publicly detailed its criteria (Michigan Public).
- Security lessons: What protocols should military and National Guard units follow inside the capital to better protect personnel and prevent targeted attacks? Federal authorities continue to probe the incident (Fox News).
Implications for The World
The episode carries broader consequences beyond the immediate news cycle:
- Economic impact: Political instability can affect markets and investor confidence globally; renewed debate over civil-military relations may spur volatility in currencies and stocks.
- Political consequences: Democracies watch civilian control of the military closely; allegations that leaders suggested force against civilians raise international alarm about democratic norms.
- Social effects: Polarized rhetoric and threats to lawmakers can erode public trust in institutions and heighten security concerns for elected officials.
- Practical applications: Militaries and security services worldwide may revisit training on unlawful orders and review protocols for protecting elected representatives and handling politically charged threats.
Reporting notes and sources
This article draws on contemporaneous reporting and local coverage. Key sources include:
- Fox News reporting on Slotkin’s silence, the video and the D.C. shooting
- Michigan Public reporting on Slotkin’s statements, the FBI inquiry and threats
- Video and related social posts referenced by lawmakers and the FBI (YouTube)
Journalists contacted Slotkin’s office, which did not respond to multiple requests for comment on her silence. The former president has denied making the “shoot at their legs” remark as reported in Esper’s memoir. The FBI and federal prosecutors have confirmed their investigation into the D.C. shooting and the charges against the accused, while also seeking interviews related to the lawmakers’ video.
