🔗 Share this article

Lawmakers from the Democratic party expressed fury after the ex-president accused a group of Democratic representatives of being "turncoats" and stated they should be taken into custody and sentenced "by death" following their publication of a controversial video.

The Content That Triggered the Dispute

The clip, shared on earlier this week, features six Democratic elected officials who in the past acted in military or defense positions.

"As we did, you all swore an oath to safeguard and uphold this national charter," the representatives declared in the brief video. "And right now, the dangers to our governing document aren't just from foreign nations, but from right here at home. Our regulations are clear, you can decline unlawful commands, you can refuse unlawful commands, you must refuse improper directives. No one has to carry out directives that violate the legal system or our national charter."

The Former President's Incensed Reply

The clip appeared to trigger a furious reaction from the former president.

On later in the week, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "This constitutes SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these betrayers to our United States should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In another publication, he wrote: "This represents really concerning, and Dangerous to our Nation. Their words cannot be permitted to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a subsequent post, he continued: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, subject to punishment by DEATH!" He also redistributed a statement that read: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Party Representatives React

Following Trump's statements on Thursday, Democratic leadership issued a combined statement condemning the comments.

"Political violence has no role in the United States," they wrote. "Elected officials who appeared in the video all acted our nation with exceptional national pride and excellence. We strongly condemn Donald Trump's appalling and risky calls for execution against congressional representatives, and appeal to Republican lawmakers to strongly do the same."

The Democratic leaders also said that they had been in contact with law enforcement "to make certain the security of these representatives and their loved ones."

"Donald Trump must without delay delete these radical social media posts and retract his aggressive language before he gets someone killed," the declaration stated.

Lawmakers' Firm Response

The lawmakers who appeared in the video also issued a response.

"We identify as veterans and defense specialists who love this United States and made an oath to protect and defend the national charter of the United States," they stated. "This commitment continues forever, and we plan to honor it. No threat, pressure, or promotion of aggression will prevent us from that important obligation."

"The most revealing aspect is that the former president deems it subject to penalty by death for us to restate the legal requirements," they stated. "Armed forces members should know that we have their protection as they fulfill their oath to the constitution and duty to obey only legal commands. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our obligation."

They stated: "The entire nation must come together and censure the former president's demands for our murder and political violence. This is a time for moral clarity."

More Political Reactions

The Senate Democratic leader also censured Trump's statements and published on digital platforms: "We must be absolutely clear: the former president is calling for the execution of public representatives."

He continued: "This constitutes an clear THREAT. Each congressional member, all representatives, the entire nation – irrespective of political affiliation – should denounce this immediately and unconditionally."

The GOP leader supported Trump's claim that the Democrats had been involved in "rebellion", describing the video as "highly unsuitable", adding: "It is very harmful, you have leading members of the government advising military personnel to ignore directives, I think that represents historic in the nation's past."

The GOP official also according to sources told media outlets that in what he reviewed of Trump's messages, Trump was "describing the offense of rebellion" but that "legal experts have to examine the language and decide all that."

Executive Branch Response

During a administration briefing on Thursday afternoon, when questioned by a media member, "Is the president want to put to death congressional representatives?", the executive branch representative answered: "Absolutely not."

"It's important to note about what the president is responding to," the official declared. "There are current representatives of the US Congress who coordinated to orchestrate a video message to personnel of the national defense, to current military personnel encouraging them to disobey the commander in chief's proper directives."

She added: "The purity of our military relies on the chain of command, and if that system is broken, it can cause people getting killed, it can result in chaos, and precisely what these members of Congress ... are fundamentally supporting."