A video released last week by six Democratic lawmakers has set off an acrimonious partisan debate over what constitutes treason and reflects a larger political debate about what constitutes patriotism in today's polarised political environment.
In the 90-second video, the six Democrats, all with military or national security backgrounds, criticised Trump and reminded military personnel they had the right – the obligation, even - to disobey "unlawful orders".
Although they did not detail what orders they had in mind, they are thought to have been referring to the deployment of National Guard troops to US cities and the US Navy raids on alleged drugs traffickers in the Caribbean.
"This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens," they said.
You have taken an oath to defend the US constitution, they reminded their military listeners, and "the threats to our constitution aren't just coming from abroad, but from right here at home".
