Could the military split if Trump tries to terminate the constitution and use lethal force against civilians?

The US military is sworn to defend the Constitution and Trump has mentioned multiple times how he wishes to terminate it. It's pretty clear that if he wins, the second he gets the chance, he's gonna rip it up and essentially declare war on the American people.

People like my older brother and many soldiers I've met tend to be let and live and that they're not supposed to follow unlawful orders. If Trump were to declare martial law, invoke the insurrection act, and demand the military to occupy cities and to open fire on American civilians whether they're peacefully protesting or not, is it possible that if Trump declares it as an official act and says they have to follow it no matter what, could the military split between those who see that as a lawful order and those who don't, and could that be what leads to a large scale war between the states?

I'm just trying to figure this out because some soldiers are minority service members and the US Army already initiated a plan to combat extremism in it's ranks. Some soldiers might also have family members who could fall under MAGA's categories of "undesirables" and if they were ordered to fire on their own family and friends, I just don't see some soldiers willing to do that, not to mention that I think some minority service members would straight up be like "You're not taking my guns or my uniform unless you take me and my family down first." and I feel like that could lead to a war.

It simply feels like MAGA is trying to force a civil war and that the military is increasingly losing it's patience with this extremism. The military also seems to be pro-Ukraine and so I think Trump trying to withdraw us from NATO and the UN and possibly even ally with Russia would be hugely unpopular with them.

What do you guys think could happen? I don't see the military remaining unified if Trump orders the creation of some theocratic dictatorship. There's no way they'd just hand over their guns and say game over.

Posted Jul 9, 2024, 4:24 AM UTC

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