President Donald Trump’s sharp words have landed him in hot water again, this time drawing a rare public nudge from a fellow Republican to dial back the intensity.
On a recent broadcast of ABC’s “This Week,” Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) addressed a brewing controversy involving Trump’s fiery response to Democratic lawmakers, heightened security concerns, and the legality of military directives tied to national defense and drug interdiction, as Breitbart reports.
The saga began when Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Slotkin, released a video offering guidance to military personnel on refusing orders they deem unlawful.
Trump didn’t take kindly to this, unleashing a barrage of threats against the lawmakers, including talk of severe punishment and incarceration.
As a result, these Democrats now find themselves under round-the-clock protection, a stark reminder of how heated political discourse can spill into real-world consequences.
While Trump’s base might cheer such tough talk, it’s clear the rhetoric has raised eyebrows even among allies, prompting a call for restraint.
Enter Rep. McCaul, who stepped into the fray with a measured but firm perspective on the underlying issue of military orders.
He argued that the directives in question, often tied to self-defense under Article 2 of the Constitution, are perfectly legal when aimed at curbing threats like drug trafficking into the United States.
“Well, I don’t speak for the president in terms of hanging members of Congress. But I will say these orders that they’re talking about, in my judgment, are not illegal orders to follow,” McCaul stated on ABC’s “This Week.”
McCaul didn’t stop there, adding, “My advice, though not on his White House, but I would tone down the rhetoric and tone down the theme here.”
Here’s the rub: while Trump’s bombast grabs headlines, it risks drowning out a serious policy debate about the military’s role in protecting American lives from the scourge of drugs.
McCaul’s point is sharp—focus on the mission, not the mudslinging, because the stakes of border security and drug interdiction are too high for petty distractions.
McCaul also ventured into hypothetical territory, musing about potential military action in places like Venezuela against leaders such as Maduro, which could echo past U.S. interventions in Latin America.
Such a move, he noted, would activate the War Powers Act, giving Congress a tight 60-day window to decide on formal war declarations or authorized force if conflict persists.
It’s a sobering reminder that today’s heated words could tomorrow ignite far graver decisions, a point that should cut through the noise for conservatives who value both strength and strategy.
