On a recent episode of 'CNN News Central,' Democratic Representative Adam Smith from Washington expressed his belief that President Donald Trump has issued illegal military orders. This statement followed a video featuring six Democratic lawmakers urging military personnel to refuse any illegal orders from Trump, although the video did not specify particular orders.

In response to the video, the Department of War announced a formal review of Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona, who participated in the video. Smith criticized the Trump administration for pursuing Kelly, describing it as an infringement on protected political speech. He emphasized that elected representatives should be able to express their opinions, particularly regarding military actions that lack proper justification, such as the order to target boats in the Caribbean without clear national security rationale or congressional approval.

Smith characterized the Department of War's actions against Kelly as a threat to democratic discourse, likening it to tactics used by totalitarian regimes. While Smith asserted that he believes Trump has issued illegal orders, Senator Elissa Slotkin from Michigan, who also appeared in the video, stated she was not aware of any illegal military orders from the president, although she acknowledged the complexities surrounding military actions related to Venezuela.

The discussion highlights ongoing tensions regarding military authority, political expression, and the implications of executive orders in the context of U.S. governance.