🔗 Share this article

Democratic officials voiced fury after Donald Trump alleged a group of Democratic legislators of being "traitors" and stated they should be arrested and punished "with execution" following their posting of a controversial video.

The Message That Triggered the Debate

The clip, shared on Tuesday, features six Democratic congress members who previously served in armed forces or defense capacities.

"Similar to us, you all swore an oath to safeguard and uphold this national charter," the officials affirmed in the 90-second video. "At present, the dangers to our governing document aren't just from foreign nations, but from right here at home. Our statutes are unambiguous, you can refuse improper directives, you can reject improper directives, you have to reject illegal orders. No one has to follow orders that contravene the legal system or our national charter."

Donald Trump's Angry Reply

The video message reportedly trigger a angry response from the ex-president.

On Thursday morning, Trump posted on his social media platform: "It's called 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 declared: "This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their comments cannot be permitted to remain. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a subsequent message, he stated: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, liable by DEATH!" He also redistributed a comment that read: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Democratic Leaders React

Following Trump's remarks on Thursday, House Democratic leader published a combined statement condemning the statements.

"Partisan aggression has no position in the United States," they declared. "Elected officials who were featured in the video all acted our United States with tremendous patriotism and honor. We unequivocally censure Donald Trump's offensive and dangerous threats of violence against congressional representatives, and call on Republican lawmakers to vigorously do the same."

The party representatives also said that they had been in communication with protective services "to ensure the protection of these representatives and their relatives."

"Donald Trump must immediately remove these extreme social media posts and recant his dangerous rhetoric before he causes harm," the declaration stated.

Representatives' Firm Response

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

"We identify as veterans and security experts who value this country and made an oath to protect and uphold the constitution of the United States," they stated. "Our pledge lasts a lifetime, and we aim to honor it. No threat, pressure, or call for violence will deter us from that fundamental responsibility."

"What's most telling is that the ex-president deems it subject to penalty by execution for us to repeat the law," they continued. "Armed forces members should recognize that we have their protection as they fulfill their pledge to the constitution and obligation to adhere to only legal commands. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our obligation."

They continued: "The entire nation must join forces and censure the president's calls for our death and partisan aggression. This is a time for moral clarity."

Further Political Comments

The Democratic Senate minority leader also condemned Trump's remarks and posted on online networks: "Let's be crystal clear: the ex-commander in chief is calling for the death of elected officials."

He added: "This is an direct THREAT. Each congressional member, every Representative, the entire nation – without partisan consideration – should denounce this right away and unconditionally."

The Conservative official justified Trump's assertion that the Democrats had been involved in "treason", characterizing the video as "extremely improper", commenting: "This constitutes very dangerous, you have prominent officials of the legislature instructing troops to defy commands, I think that's unprecedented in US history."

The GOP official also allegedly told journalists that in what he reviewed of Trump's posts, Trump was "explaining the violation of sedition" but that "attorneys have to parse the language and decide all that."

White House Response

During a White House press conference on that day, when questioned by a reporter, "Is the president want to kill congressional representatives?", the executive branch representative replied: "Certainly not."

"Let's be clear about what the former president is addressing," the official declared. "There are sitting members of the federal government who coordinated to arrange a video message to individuals of the American armed forces, to current military personnel encouraging them to defy the president's proper directives."

She added: "The sanctity of our armed forces depends on the hierarchy, and if that structure is broken, it can lead to fatalities, it can lead to chaos, and precisely what these congressional representatives ... are basically encouraging."