🔗 Share this article

Democratic officials voiced anger after former President Donald Trump charged a group of Democratic representatives of being "traitors" and stated they should be taken into custody and sentenced "with execution" following their posting of a contentious video.

The Message That Triggered the Dispute

The video footage, shared on Tuesday, showcases six Democratic congress members who in the past worked in armed forces or intelligence roles.

"As we did, you all swore an oath to defend and uphold this founding document," the representatives stated in the short video. "Currently, the threats to our governing document aren't just from foreign nations, but from domestically. Our laws are unambiguous, you can decline unlawful commands, you can refuse improper directives, you have to decline illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that break the legal system or our founding principles."

Trump's Furious Reaction

The recorded statement reportedly provoke a furious reply from the previous commander-in-chief.

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

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

In a third message, he stated: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, subject to punishment by DEATH!" He also redistributed a statement that said: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Democratic Officials React

Following Trump's comments on that day, Top Democrats released a combined statement denouncing the comments.

"Violent politics has no role in America," they declared. "Representatives who appeared in the video all served our nation with tremendous loyalty and honor. We unequivocally censure Donald Trump's offensive and harmful death threats against elected officials, and call on Republican lawmakers to strongly do the same."

The party representatives also stated that they had been in communication with protective services "to guarantee the protection of these members and their families."

"Donald Trump must right away take down these radical social media posts and retract his dangerous rhetoric before he gets someone killed," the statement added.

Lawmakers' Strong Reaction

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

"We serve as veterans and defense specialists who value this nation and took an oath to safeguard and uphold the constitution of the United States," they stated. "This commitment lasts a lifetime, and we aim to keep it. No threat, pressure, or promotion of aggression will stop us from that fundamental responsibility."

"What's most telling is that the former president views it punishable by capital punishment for us to repeat the legal requirements," they added. "Armed forces members should understand that we have their support as they execute their oath to the constitution and responsibility to adhere to only legal commands. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our obligation."

They added: "Every American must unite and denounce the ex-president's calls for our execution and partisan aggression. This is a moment for principled stance."

More Political Reactions

The Opposition leader also condemned Trump's comments and published on digital platforms: "Let's be crystal clear: the former president is calling for the death of elected officials."

He stated: "This constitutes an direct THREAT. Each congressional member, each house member, every American – regardless of party – should denounce this right away and absolutely."

The Conservative official justified Trump's claim that the Democrats had been involved in "treason", characterizing the video as "highly unsuitable", stating: "This represents very dangerous, you have leading members of the government instructing military personnel to defy commands, I think that represents without precedent in the nation's past."

The Republican leader also according to sources told the press that in what he examined of Trump's publications, Trump was "defining the offense of treason" but that "lawyers have to examine the wording and determine all that."

Executive Branch Statement

During a administration briefing on Thursday afternoon, when asked by a media member, "Would the president want to put to death congressional representatives?", the administration spokesperson responded: "No."

"Let's be clear about what the ex-commander in chief is responding to," the spokesperson said. "You have active officials of the US Congress who worked together to organize a digital communication to individuals of the national defense, to current military personnel encouraging them to disobey the president's legal commands."

She said: "The integrity of our defense system relies on the command structure, and if that structure is broken, it can result in casualties, it can lead to confusion, and precisely what these elected officials ... are basically promoting."