This week, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said that he believes the U.S. military could serve as a constraint on President Donald Trump’s administration, arguing that senior uniformed leaders remain primarily loyal to the Constitution rather than any individual political figure.
Speaking during an appearance on “MS NOW” Wednesday morning, Warner previewed questions he said he plans to ask U.S. Navy Adm. Frank M. Bradley when Bradley testifies Thursday before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Warner serves as the committee’s vice chair.
Warner said his questions will focus in part on concerns surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the administration’s recent military actions, including strikes in the Caribbean. Warner said he trusts Bradley, but raised doubts about Hegseth’s public statements.
“Remember, this is an administration that has treated the uniformed military with unprecedented disrespect when they were all brought to get a pep rally in front of Hegseth and Trump,” Warner said. “This is an administration that’s fired uniform generals from the head of the NSA, the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency.”
He added: “And I think in many ways, the uniformed military may help save us from this president and his lame people like Hegseth, because I think their commitment is to the Constitution and obviously not to Trump. And I expect Bradley to adhere to that.”
Warner’s comments follow similar remarks from other Democrats who have suggested service members could resist unlawful directives. Earlier this year, six Democratic lawmakers urged members of the military to resist “illegal” orders.
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) made a related argument in an interview last month with Don Lemon, saying he has spoken with service members who view their oath as a safeguard.
“What gives me hope, and I talk to service members all the time. They tell me that I don’t appreciate enough and the public doesn’t appreciate enough that while Congress is not a check on the president anymore, and the judiciary at the Supreme Court is hardly a check, military members have told me, ‘We can be a check,’” Swalwell said.
He continued: “They’re essentially saying, ‘We’re not going to betray our oath to the Constitution because this guy tells us to.’ While it’s not codified that way — they’re not a branch of government on their own— their honor and integrity might just save us.”
Former President Barack Obama also addressed the issue Monday, saying he has seen signs of “resistance” within the military to what he described as politicization, while adding he does not believe that politicization has fully taken hold.
“I would not expect the politicization of the Justice Department or our military,” Obama said. “And I don’t think that’s happened. I think there’s been resistance, particularly in the military, to that, but the degree to which that has been encouraged, you know, that used to be something that I would lecture other countries not to do.”
This article originally appeared on Great America News Desk. It is republished with permission.
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Where do these Congressional members and senators get this information, their butts? Have they ever served in the Military, take the oath when entering the military. What they are doing but undermining the LEADER of our nation, is tatamount to treason by exposing our military members and their actions following the lawful orders they have been assigned to do. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) is a prime example of blinded by the party line and making stgatements that are both potentially harmful to our military members and the nation. If Virginia had any since they would end this mans term in Washington DC on the next election due to his lack of knowledge of how our government works, putting our military plans and member in harms way, and just generally being blinded by Party Corruption.
In additon he talks about firing Generals who are not following the lawful orders of a POTUS, that is how its done. Each military member takes an oath to follow the lawful orders of the POTUS. Is when they either refuse to follow those orders or fail to follow those orders that they are replaced and services no longer required and their fore terminated or fired. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), perhaps you don’t understand that the tail does not wag the dog. The military does NOT ignore, change, refuse, or try to control the POTUS, it is the POTUS who gives the orders that they obey or suffer the consequences of being subjected to the UCMJ.
As far as taking out pirates on the open seas outside any nations taritorial waters, who are intent on delivering drugs or any other lethal weapon ultimately to the USA, do you promote the carriage of such drugs which will kill indiscriminately not single people but hundreds of our citizens. Is it not YOUR job to assure the safety and security of this nation by stopping any threat against it to include drug runners? Each of these fast drug boats, each of the low riding boats, each large ship, or aircraft apprehended will prevent more addiction and death to our citizens but I am going to assume you DESIRE to continue receiving these shippments becasue you are invested into drug rehab. I personally like the way Trump is handling this by keeping them away from the USA, something YOUR party has failed to do over and over again. an attack on Adm. Frank M. Bradley is an uneducated affront to our military members who are serving our nation today who follow the lawful orders of our POTUS. Just remember that the axe is a double bladed tool that once your party is back in power, can be used just as effectively. SO is it best to grand stand now and show your ignorance of our governement or is it better to request a visit with our President Trump and find out, in private, what is going on, why, and what the future plans will be. Other than that your actions are strictly grandstanding fluff and full of hot party air. This is what true unbias voting Amiericans are looking at, your actions and if you are just holding onto the corrupt party line held by ancient and decrepit member of congress who should have retired years ago, or are a far thinking trying to make our nation stronger and more protected. So far the Democratic party is to blame for most of the problems occuring in the USA today, and viewed as such by the quiet majority of the voting public. I know the party plans on undocumented immigrants, you consider them all “Undocumented and voting Democrats”, totally against the Constitution. Have you ever read and understood the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? Somehow I think you were probably absent that day from class.
Following radicals like Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) only shows your inability to make decisions and act in accordance to what is good for Americans and protecting them. You seem to want to destroy our nation and following the lead of anyone that promotes what is back for America is NOT in the best interst of true Americans nor your political future. Past President Barrack Obama is a great part of the resistance, corruption, and almost treason on what he politically does today. His second election is highly suspected of be filled with fraud. Every POTUS upon ending their term in office has followed the tradition to leave Washington DC and let the New POTUS run the nation without interfearing with them. Not Barrack Obama, he never took his foot out of the White House and has subverted our goverment and its officials in almost every area there is. This is not acceptable and is close to subversion and treason as it can get. He is not promoting the nation he grew up to and continues to hate, he follows the orders of people such as the NWO, the Rich, and the powerful all for increased wealth and power. Look at his bottom line and it should give you the answers you need.
So Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) I suggest you tone you actions down a bit, and stop trying to grand stand, do your job the way its suppose to be done and represent ALL the people in Virginia, not just the radical agenda of Washington democrats before you perminately labled as a radical not serving the people of Virginia and an enemy of the State.
Ya know what? A couple of senators crossed the line with their big mouths. It is time for some sedition charges. When is that gonna happen?
Totally agree with sedition and or treason charges!
If they were loyal to the constitution they’d have booted Biden. Upper military “leaders” are politicians.
These democrats continue to claim that President Trump is doing things unconstitutional, yet they can not name ONE thing he has done that is unconstitutional. The Biden administration has done many unconstitutional things like surveillance and spying on US senators, phone calls as well as members of Congress
If a Republican had said those words during the Obama or Biden administration the tone of the media and pundits would be outrage, accusations of Treason. Full scale probs and thunderous demands for that Senators resignation. The hatred of Trump is so visceral and deep rational thought has left and insanity has replaced it. Disgusting!