National Guard troops stun with rare vow to defy Trump's orders: 'Stand up to the Gestapo'

[cbabe]

https://www.rawstory.com/national-guard-chicago/

National Guard troops stun with rare vow to defy Trump's orders: 'Stand up to the Gestapo'

Sarah K. Burris
October 27, 2025 5:03PM ET

President Donald Trump might be the commander in chief, but two National Guard soldiers vowed to refuse to follow his orders if they conflict with the law and the Constitution.

Two Illinois National Guard members told CBS News that they want no part of deploying to Chicago to help deport immigrants.

…

“I signed up to defend the American people and protect the Constitution," Blaha said. "When we have somebody in power who's actively dismantling our rights — free speech, due process, freedom of the press — it's really hard to be a soldier right now."

…

In the Trump era, there's a chance that Blaha and Palecek could be "court-martialed, imprisoned or get a felony-level discharge, depending on who issued the order and whether the soldier is under state or federal control," the report said.

… more .. both are currently running for office … Blaha running for Congress in District 13. …Palecek is a Latina guardswoman running for the Illinois state legislature. …

[Cheezoholic]

1. An Avalanche starts with a couple of indiscriminate snowballs rolling down the precipice. Honorable soldiers indeed n/t

[paleotn]

4. Saying what a lot of others are thinking.

More need to say it and end this shit once and for all.

[Exp]

2. Brave! nt

[bdamomma]

19. We need

MORE of this. Standing up to the bullies, Miller is included too.

[BurnDoubt]

3. Actual Patriotism!!!!!

Heros are born!!!!!
A Grateful Nation owes you their Future.
Go Forth And Inspire.

[BaronChocula]

5. Kick (the living shit out of the conman)

[FadedMullet]

6. Am I right in thinking that a soldier is not required to obey an illegal order?

[cbabe]

9. Duty to disobey:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20751115

[Wounded Bear]

10. It can be a tough row to hoe, but you are correct...nt

[Kaleva]

17. One better make sure that the order is indeed illegal

Otherwise the consequences can be pretty severe.

[wnylib]

26. If an order is illegal, soldiers are required to disobey it.

Deficit Don would interpret the law to suit himself, though, and most likely would have the soldiers court-martialed for insubordination.

[Buddyzbuddy]

7. I wish they hadn't provided their names or at least used an alias.

The slobfather will make an example of them, he has to.

[MiHale]

15. That would be hiding...this action is called bravery...

It’s what real soldiers do.

[Buddyzbuddy]

20. I totally get that but doing it with anonimity would have given them some cover at least until like minded

members of the military joined in the verbal protest. By doing it this way I'm concerned that punishment will be swift and severe before others get the same idea. That will likely stop any movement that might have occurred, otherwise.
The action alone and the confirmation by the press of military identity without actual names would have been enough. They could have revealed their identity after the movement had begun.
I totally applaud and respect what they have done. I'm concerned for their safety and should be defended and protected.

[MiHale]

21. I understand your point...

I do believe that the way they did it means more. Just my opinion.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

16. They are

both running for office, so I think they want their name out there.

[Timeflyer]

8. Hopefully their courage will be contagious within the Guard.

[soldierant]

11. In case anyone wan't Raw Story's source for this,

it's here:
https://archive.is/QKcGb

[electric_blue68]

12. Thank You, Sirs! Brave. Hopefullly you'll Inspire More NGs all over!

And, thanks, cbabe!

[slightlv]

13. The National Guard, more so than any other military or quasi-military unit

was built to serve the people and the states in which they reside. They weren't built to be fighting forces, per se... like the active duty and reserves, although GW Bush broke that mold. He used absolutely everyone he could throw at the middle east in his evil attempts at regime change and oil and mineral capture through undeclared "war."

I'm a pacifist at heart, but I spent over 20 years creating curriculum and making it available via LMS for National Guard and Reserves, in particular, the National Guard. These are people just like you and me... they have daytime jobs and lives like you and I live everyday. Throwing them into a war mode is almost as uneasy alliance as pulling "Joe Blow" off the street and throwing him into it. I always felt responsible for the curriculum and the treatment the NG got because of this. And it helped my pacifist heart to contribute after I left the active duty military, myself. I was helping my fellow soldiers think critically about what they were being told to do, and how to do it correctly and humanely.

I hope these brave soldiers are followed by many, many more. Most times, if you want something to happen, it only takes a few doing for the first few times before others will see the light and join in. May the light shine brightly on all military, that they might turn away from the cruel, vile forms of "governance" that rocks this administrations world.

[electric_blue68]

14. How interesting (your work)! Salient point ...

Yeah, I know that about the NG; re regular folks.

In my temp job work I once filled in for a few weeks for someone away on NG duty. 👍

[Javaman]

18. let's hope that type of patriotism is contagious nt

[Scalded Nun]

22. This is the military we need. Where are the voices from the military leadership?

Privates have more courage than Generals. Seems like it has been that way for quite some time now.

[Justice matters.]

23. ALL elected Dems HAVE to issue that at least ONE statement EACH day:

"Troopers signed up to defend the American people and protect the Constitution. When we have somebody in power who's actively dismantling our rights — free speech, due process, freedom of the press — it's really hard to be a soldier right now."

[mercuryblues]

24. There are way more than that.

Who stand by them

Acta non verba

[Faux pas]

25. True Patriots