🔗 Share this article

Democratic officials expressed outrage after the ex-president charged a coalition of Democratic representatives of being "traitors" and declared they should be detained and sentenced "through capital punishment" following their publication of a controversial video.

The Content That Provoked the Controversy

The recorded message, shared on earlier this week, includes six Democratic lawmakers who previously acted in defense or security roles.

"Similar to us, you all swore an vow to defend and uphold this national charter," the lawmakers declared in the 90-second video. "And right now, the threats to our governing document are not only from foreign nations, but from right here at home. Our statutes are explicit, you can refuse improper directives, you can decline unlawful commands, you have to reject illegal orders. No one has to carry out commands that break the statutes or our constitution."

The Former President's Angry Reaction

The video message reportedly prompt a angry reaction from the ex-president.

On the following morning, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "This represents SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these betrayers to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In a separate message, he stated: "This constitutes really concerning, and Harmful to our Country. Their comments cannot be allowed to persist. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a subsequent message, he continued: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" He also reposted a comment that read: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Party Leaders Respond

Following Trump's comments on that day, House Democratic leader released a joint statement condemning the remarks.

"Partisan aggression has no position in the United States," they wrote. "Elected officials who participated in the video all acted our country with tremendous patriotism and excellence. We clearly condemn Donald Trump's offensive and risky death threats against members of Congress, and urge House Republicans to vigorously do the same."

The party representatives also stated that they had been in contact with security officials "to ensure the security of these representatives and their relatives."

"Donald Trump must without delay delete these unhinged social media posts and withdraw his dangerous discourse before he gets someone killed," the statement continued.

Officials' Defiant Answer

The lawmakers who were featured in the video also published a statement.

"We are veterans and security experts who care for this nation and took an vow to protect and support the constitution of the United States," they said. "That oath is permanent, and we plan to keep it. No threat, pressure, or promotion of aggression will prevent us from that important obligation."

"The most revealing aspect is that the ex-president considers it subject to penalty by execution for us to restate the law," they continued. "Military personnel should understand that we have their support as they carry out their vow to the national charter and responsibility to obey only proper directives. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our duty."

They added: "Every American must come together and censure the ex-president's calls for our death and political violence. This is a moment for ethical certainty."

Additional Governmental Reactions

The Opposition leader also censured Trump's remarks and published on social media: "Let's be crystal clear: the ex-commander in chief is demanding the death of government members."

He added: "This constitutes an outright THREAT. Each congressional member, every Representative, every American – irrespective of political affiliation – should denounce this immediately and without qualification."

The Republican House speaker justified Trump's allegation that the Democrats had engaged in "sedition", describing the video as "wildly inappropriate", commenting: "This constitutes very harmful, you have prominent officials of the legislature telling military personnel to disobey orders, I think that is historic in the nation's past."

The Republican leader also allegedly told media outlets that in what he read of Trump's publications, Trump was "explaining the offense of treason" but that "legal experts have to analyze the wording and establish all that."

Administration Response

During a administration briefing on that day, when inquired by a media member, "Would the president want to put to death members of Congress?", the White House press secretary replied: "Absolutely not."

"Let's be clear about what the ex-commander in chief is reacting to," the spokesperson stated. "You have sitting members of the American legislature who conspired to arrange a digital communication to members of the national defense, to current military personnel advising them to ignore the commander in chief's proper directives."

She said: "The integrity of our military depends on the chain of command, and if that system is violated, it can cause casualties, it can result in disorder, and that's what these elected officials ... are basically supporting."