President Trump accuses Democrats of 'seditious behaviour'
Newshour
BBC
4.2 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 20 November 2025
⏱️ 49 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
US President Donald Trump has accused Democratic legislators who urged members of the armed forces to disobey unlawful orders of sedition and suggested they should face the death penalty.
Also on the programme: a journalist who has followed the Epstein story for years tells us what might be in the files to be released; and American filmmaker Wes Anderson on the pros and cons of AI in the movies. (Photo: President Trump gestures after speaking during a meeting of senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia on September 30, 2025. Credit: Reuters)
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:08.8 | Hello and welcome to News Hour, live from the BBC World Service in London. I'm Rebecca Kesbby. |
| 0:15.7 | United States President Donald Trump has posted a series of furious messages on social media within the past few hours. |
| 0:23.6 | He's described a group of Democrats in Congress as traitors, the six Democrats who all formerly served in the military or security services, |
| 0:33.0 | released a video aimed at current serving members of the armed forces, saying that, quote, |
| 0:38.5 | we know you're under enormous stress and pressure right now. Our laws are clear you can refuse |
| 0:44.4 | illegal orders. The lawmakers claim that the Trump administration is pitting the military |
| 0:50.1 | against the American people, threatening the Constitution. Like us, you all swore an oath. |
| 0:56.4 | To protect and defend this Constitution. |
| 0:58.6 | Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren't just coming from abroad |
| 1:02.2 | but from right here at home. |
| 1:03.5 | Our laws are clear. |
| 1:04.9 | You can refuse illegal orders. |
| 1:07.3 | You can refuse illegal orders. |
| 1:09.4 | You must refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders. |
| 1:11.6 | No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution. |
| 1:15.6 | We know this is hard and that it's a difficult time to be a public servant. |
| 1:19.6 | But whether you're serving in the CIA, the Army, or Navy, the Air Force, your vigilance is critical. |
| 1:24.6 | And know that we have your back. |
| 1:31.7 | Well, no specific Trump policy was mentioned in the video, |
| 1:37.3 | though many Democrats have been critical of the military strikes on alleged drugboats in the Caribbean. |
| 1:40.5 | As well as describing the lawmakers as traitors, |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.