Slotkin Silent After D.C. Guard Shooting, Declines to Answer Questions About Past Warnings That Trump Could Order Troops to Fire
Sen. Elissa Slotkin declined to comment when asked about her earlier warnings that former President Donald Trump might direct troops to fire, following a Washington, D.C., shooting that left one National Guard member dead and another critically injured.
Key takeaways
- Slotkin declined to comment when pressed about earlier warnings linking former President Trump to possible orders for troops to fire; her office did not respond to multiple requests for comment. (Source: Fox News)
- The D.C. shooting left one National Guard member dead and another critically injured; 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal is in custody and faces first-degree murder charges while the FBI investigates the attack as terrorism. (Source: Fox News)
- Slotkin’s warnings were based on claims in former Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s memoir that President Trump asked whether troops could “shoot at their legs”; Trump denies making the remarks. (Source: Fox News; Esper memoir referenced)
- After a November 2025 video urging service members to refuse unlawful orders, Slotkin says she and colleagues faced thousands of threats and an FBI counterterrorism inquiry; Trump called the video “seditious behavior.” (Sources: Michigan Public; Fox2 Detroit)
Background: What Slotkin warned about and why she raised the alarm
Sen. Elissa Slotkin first drew attention after reports surfaced that former President Trump discussed aggressive uses of military force with then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper. In his memoir, A Sacred Oath, Esper wrote that Trump asked about sending the 82nd Airborne into Washington and asked officers if troops could shoot protesters “in the legs” if needed.
Slotkin and several lawmakers cited those claims as the basis for a public warning to active-duty and National Guard members: service members must refuse unlawful orders under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The reporting and claims were summarized in public coverage. (Source: Fox News)
The November 2025 video and immediate fallout
In November 2025, Slotkin and five other members of Congress recorded a public video aimed at service members and intelligence personnel, urging troops they have a legal duty to refuse unlawful orders. The lawmakers said the video responded to direct questions from service members who feared being ordered to deploy in U.S. cities or to carry out strikes without clear legal basis. (Sources: Fox News; Michigan Public)
“The response led to thousands of threats and prompted an FBI counterterrorism inquiry into the lawmakers who appeared,” Slotkin said, describing harassment and threats that followed. (Source: Michigan Public)
The D.C. shooting and the questions it raised
Authorities say the shooter, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a former member of an Afghan counterterrorism unit, opened fire at a site in Washington, D.C., killing one National Guard member and critically wounding another. Lakanwal is in custody and charged with first-degree murder while the FBI is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism. (Source: Fox News)
Reporters asked Slotkin whether the attack demonstrated her earlier warnings were prescient or whether they warranted renewed policy scrutiny. She declined to comment; multiple requests to her office seeking clarification went unanswered, leaving open questions about whether presidential comments and rules of engagement on U.S. soil should be revisited. (Source: Fox News)
Trump’s response and the investigation into lawmakers
After the video, former President Trump blasted the lawmakers on social media, labeling the video “seditious behavior, punishable by death.” White House aides later sought to soften the comment, saying Trump did not mean members of Congress should be executed. The incident drew national attention and intensified scrutiny of the lawmakers’ actions. (Sources: Michigan Public; Fox2 Detroit)
Slotkin says she and other lawmakers received thousands of death threats, that her family and family farm were harassed (including a bomb threat), and that the FBI’s counterterrorism division opened an inquiry into the lawmakers who appeared in the video. The agency has not publicly detailed the scope of that inquiry. (Sources: Michigan Public; Fox2 Detroit)
Security and legal questions that remain
The episode raises difficult questions: Was the D.C. shooting an isolated act by a foreign national with a complex background, or does it reveal gaps in how local and federal forces protect service members and installations? Did Slotkin’s warnings influence local preparedness or policy discussions? Should Congress or the Defense Department revisit rules of engagement and legal guidance for troops on U.S. soil?
Reporters and local leaders note definitive answers require cooperation from officials and clearer public records. (Sources: Fox News; Michigan Public)
Implications for Huntington Beach, California
Economic impact: Huntington Beach relies on tourism and stable public safety. High-profile national security incidents and heated rhetoric in Washington can deter visitors and create local economic ripple effects. Local leaders may press for clarity on when and how Guard units are deployed, and uncertainty could increase costs for training or security measures. (Source context: Fox News)
Political consequences: Huntington Beach voters lean conservative; questions about military roles in domestic law enforcement and congressional accountability will resonate. Local Republicans may press for oversight hearings or demand transparency from the Defense Department and FBI regarding any alleged orders. (Source context)
Social effects: The surge in threats against public officials highlights broader concerns about political violence and intimidation. Community groups and schools may feel pressure to address civility and support veterans and Guard members locally. (Source: Michigan Public)
Cultural relevance & practical actions: Debates about refusing unlawful orders touch local values about constitutional limits and respect for the troops. Local officials should clarify relations with California National Guard leadership; residents and voters may ask congressional representatives for records or briefings on any federal policy changes tied to the issue. (Local relevance tied to national events)
Reporting note
This article draws on public reporting and statements, including coverage by Fox News, Michigan Public, and Fox2 Detroit, and on reporting about Mark Esper’s memoir.
Sources cited: Fox News; Michigan Public; Fox2 Detroit
