🔗 Share this article Democrats Condemn Trump After He Suggests They Should Face Death Penalty Lawmakers from the Democratic party voiced fury after the ex-president accused a group of Democratic legislators of being "traitors" and declared they should be detained and penalized "with execution" following their posting of a disputed video. The Content That Sparked the Dispute The recorded message, shared on Tuesday, features six Democratic lawmakers who previously served in defense or defense capacities. "Like us, you all made an vow to protect and uphold this national charter," the lawmakers affirmed in the brief video. "At present, the risks to our democratic foundation don't only come from overseas, but from within our own country. Our regulations are unambiguous, you can decline unlawful commands, you can refuse unlawful commands, you must reject unlawful commands. No one has to execute commands that violate the legal system or our founding principles." Donald Trump's Incensed Response The video message reportedly trigger a furious reaction from the ex-president. On later in the week, Trump posted on Truth Social: "It's called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these turncoats to our Nation should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL." In an additional publication, he declared: "This represents really concerning, and Risky to our Nation. Their words cannot be enabled to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???" In a subsequent post, he stated: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, subject to punishment by DEATH!" He also redistributed a declaration that said: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!" Opposition Leaders React Following Trump's statements on Thursday, House Democratic leader issued a combined declaration condemning the comments. "Political violence has no position in America," they stated. "Congress members who were featured in the video all acted our nation with exceptional patriotism and excellence. We clearly censure Donald Trump's appalling and risky threats of violence against elected officials, and urge House Republicans to strongly do the same." The opposition officials also stated that they had been in touch with security officials "to ensure the safety of these representatives and their loved ones." "Donald Trump must right away delete these extreme online messages and recant his dangerous rhetoric before he causes harm," the declaration stated. Representatives' Defiant Answer The officials who were featured in the video also published a declaration. "We are former service members and security experts who care for this country and swore an pledge to safeguard and support the founding document of the United States," they declared. "Our pledge is permanent, and we intend to keep it. No warning, pressure, or call for violence will prevent us from that fundamental responsibility." "What's most telling is that the former president considers it punishable by execution for us to repeat the law," they stated. "Armed forces members should know that we have their support as they execute their pledge to the national charter and responsibility to adhere to only lawful orders. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our duty." They stated: "All citizens must come together and denounce the ex-president's calls for our death and ideological conflict. This is a period for ethical certainty." More Partisan Comments The Senate Democratic leader also censured Trump's remarks and posted on online networks: "It's important to understand: the ex-commander in chief is calling for the death of public representatives." He stated: "This is an direct THREAT. All senators, every Representative, the entire nation – irrespective of political affiliation – should censure this without delay and absolutely." The GOP leader justified Trump's assertion that the Democrats had been involved in "rebellion", describing the video as "wildly inappropriate", stating: "It is very harmful, you have prominent officials of the legislature instructing soldiers to defy commands, I think that is without precedent in US history." The GOP official also reportedly informed media outlets that in what he read of Trump's posts, Trump was "defining the violation of treason" but that "lawyers have to analyze the language and determine all that." White House Statement During a White House press conference on that day, when asked by a journalist, "Would the president want to execute elected officials?", the White House press secretary answered: "Absolutely not." "It's important to note about what the former president is responding to," the spokesperson said. "There are sitting members of the federal government who coordinated to organize a recorded statement to individuals of the US military, to active duty service members advising them to defy the president's lawful orders." She stated: "The integrity of our military rests on the chain of command, and if that structure is broken, it can lead to fatalities, it can lead to confusion, and that is exactly what these elected officials ... are essentially encouraging."