🔗 Share this article

Lawmakers from the Democratic party expressed outrage after the ex-president charged a contingent of Democratic representatives of being "traitors" and asserted they should be detained and punished "by death" following their release of a disputed video.

The Content That Provoked the Dispute

The video footage, published on earlier this week, includes six Democratic elected officials who previously acted in defense or intelligence capacities.

"As we did, you all took an vow to safeguard and uphold this constitution," the officials declared in the brief video. "Currently, the dangers to our constitution aren't just from foreign nations, but from domestically. Our laws are explicit, you can decline unlawful commands, you can reject improper directives, you should refuse illegal orders. No one has to follow commands that contravene the statutes or our national charter."

Trump's Angry Reply

The clip reportedly trigger a angry reply from the previous commander-in-chief.

On Thursday morning, Trump wrote on his preferred platform: "This represents SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these betrayers to our Nation should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In a separate message, he stated: "This constitutes really bad, and Dangerous to our Nation. Their statements cannot be permitted to remain. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

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

Democratic Officials Answer

Following Trump's comments on Thursday, Top Democrats published a unified announcement denouncing the statements.

"Partisan aggression has no place in this nation," they stated. "Elected officials who appeared in the video all acted our country with exceptional loyalty and honor. We unequivocally condemn Donald Trump's disgusting and harmful threats of violence against members of Congress, and call on GOP representatives to vigorously do the same."

The opposition officials also mentioned that they had been in contact with law enforcement "to guarantee the security of these representatives and their families."

"Donald Trump must without delay take down these extreme social media posts and retract his violent discourse before he leads to violence," the announcement added.

Lawmakers' Firm Answer

The lawmakers who appeared in the video also published a statement.

"We are veterans and security experts who care for this United States and swore an pledge to protect and defend the founding document of the United States," they declared. "This commitment is permanent, and we intend to honor it. No threat, pressure, or call for violence will deter us from that fundamental obligation."

"The significant point is that the president views it punishable by execution for us to reiterate the legal requirements," they added. "Military personnel should recognize that we have their protection as they fulfill their vow to the founding principles and responsibility to follow only legal commands. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our duty."

They stated: "Every American must come together and censure the president's requests for our murder and ideological conflict. This is a moment for principled stance."

Further Partisan Reactions

The Opposition leader also censured Trump's statements and shared on social media: "We must be absolutely clear: the former president is demanding the capital punishment of elected officials."

He continued: "This is an outright THREAT. Each congressional member, all representatives, every American – without partisan consideration – should denounce this without delay and without qualification."

The Republican House speaker justified Trump's allegation that the Democrats had engaged in "rebellion", labeling the video as "extremely improper", adding: "It is very dangerous, you have leading members of Congress advising troops to defy commands, I think that is without precedent in the nation's past."

The Conservative representative also reportedly stated to media outlets that in what he reviewed of Trump's posts, Trump was "describing the crime of sedition" but that "lawyers have to analyze the terminology and decide all that."

White House Statement

During a executive branch meeting on that day, when asked by a journalist, "Is the president want to kill congressional representatives?", the White House press secretary answered: "Certainly not."

"Let's be clear about what the former president is addressing," the official declared. "We see current representatives of the US Congress who conspired to arrange a digital communication to members of the US military, to serving soldiers urging them to ignore the commander in chief's legal commands."

She added: "The integrity of our defense system depends on the hierarchy, and if that chain of command is violated, it can cause people getting killed, it can lead to chaos, and that's what these elected officials ... are essentially promoting."