A Four-Star U.S. General has stated under oath that he would “definitely execute” an order to attack American citizens on American soil.
General Guillot, nominated to lead CENTCOM, made a startling revelation during a Senate Armed Forces Committee hearing, responding to a direct question from Senator Jack Reed. This discussion unfolded in the wake of a White House memo on “Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence,” which grants the federal government extensive authority to address perceived threats.
His testimony indicates that a senior military officer would be prepared to use force against American citizens without a trial, assuming he considers the order lawful. The White House memorandum, released on September 25, 2025, directs the National Joint Terrorism Task Force to develop a national strategy to investigate and intervene against groups involved in political violence, as identified by the government.
This directive also empowers federal agencies to coordinate with various executive departments and request support from law enforcement to counter these designated groups. As a result, this policy lays the foundation for potential military action against domestic political groups, creating a legal framework for such measures against U.S. citizens.
The Testimony: An Order to Attack Americans
Senator Reed asked General Guillot if he would act against a domestic terrorist organization on American soil, should the President declare it as such. In the hearing, Reed inquired, “If the President declared an organization a terrorist group or DTO on a secret list, and you were ordered to attack them on U.S. soil, would you follow that order?”
General Guillot replied, “Senator Reed, as with any order, I would evaluate it, consult legal authorities to ensure its legality… If I had no concerns and felt confident in the legality, I would execute the order.” His response suggests that legal justification alone would empower the U.S. military to conduct operations against citizens domestically, sidestepping traditional due process, as reported by The Intercept.
Baron Coleman’s Legal Analysis and Warning
Legal analyst Baron Coleman immediately identified the General’s testimony as a “game changer” and a direct threat to the constitutional rights of every American. Coleman highlighted the constitutional violation, stating, “This is evidence right here that the United States military will execute American citizens if they deem it lawful, if they deem it’s an order.”
Commentary suggests that this executive order mirrors the “Patriot Act playbook,” aiming to curb freedoms by potentially classifying political opposition as DTOs. This analysis highlights the legal context, emphasizing that the secret DTO list and the General’s stance could enable military targeting of Americans, bypassing constitutional protections under the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.
The designation of a “domestic terrorist organization” (DTO) can occur based on a secret list, leaving citizens with no knowledge of their status and no legal recourse before an attack. As Baron Coleman noted in his analysis of the hearing, no public process exists for knowing which groups reside on this list. He stated, “You don’t know that until a guy like General Guillot executes you.”
This stands in stark contrast to the American legal system, which requires notice, a trial, and the right to confront one’s accusers before any punishment occurs. Instead, this framework creates a system where the government could target American citizens for military action without any of the constitutional protections guaranteed by the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.
