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Lawmakers from the Democratic party expressed fury after Donald Trump charged a contingent of Democratic congress members of being "betrayers" and stated they should be detained and punished "by death" following their posting of a contentious video.

The Content That Provoked the Controversy

The video footage, published on earlier this week, showcases six Democratic elected officials who in the past acted in military or defense positions.

"Similar to us, you all took an oath to protect and uphold this constitution," the officials affirmed in the brief video. "And right now, the risks to our constitution aren't just from foreign nations, but from within our own country. Our regulations are unambiguous, you can reject illegal orders, you can refuse improper directives, you must reject illegal orders. No one has to execute orders that violate the legal system or our national charter."

The Former President's Incensed Reply

The clip seemed to provoke a furious response from the previous commander-in-chief.

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

In an additional publication, he stated: "This is really concerning, and Risky to our Nation. Their comments cannot be enabled to remain. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

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

Opposition Leaders React

Following Trump's statements on that day, House Democratic leader issued a combined announcement censuring the statements.

"Violent politics has no place in the United States," they declared. "Elected officials who participated in the video all worked our nation with tremendous loyalty and excellence. We strongly condemn Donald Trump's disgusting and risky calls for execution against congressional representatives, and appeal to Republican lawmakers to vigorously do the same."

The Democratic leaders also said that they had been in communication with security officials "to guarantee the safety of these members and their families."

"Donald Trump must immediately take down these radical digital publications and withdraw his violent discourse before he gets someone killed," the statement added.

Lawmakers' Firm Answer

The representatives who participated in the video also issued a declaration.

"We are former service members and national security professionals who love this nation and swore an oath to protect and defend the constitution of the United States," they said. "That oath lasts a lifetime, and we plan to keep it. No intimidation, coercion, or call for violence will stop us from that sacred responsibility."

"What's most telling is that the ex-president views it liable to punishment by capital punishment for us to repeat the statutes," they continued. "Our service members should recognize that we have their support as they carry out their oath to the founding principles and duty to obey only legal commands. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our obligation."

They stated: "All citizens must unite and censure the ex-president's demands for our death and ideological conflict. This is a period for ethical certainty."

More Political Reactions

The Opposition leader also denounced Trump's remarks and published on social media: "It's important to understand: the former president is demanding the execution of government members."

He stated: "This is an direct THREAT. All senators, all representatives, the entire nation – without partisan consideration – should condemn this without delay and without qualification."

The Republican House speaker supported Trump's claim that the Democrats had engaged in "treason", labeling the video as "wildly inappropriate", commenting: "This represents very harmful, you have important representatives of the government advising soldiers to disobey orders, I think that represents without precedent in US history."

The Conservative representative also according to sources informed journalists that in what he read of Trump's messages, Trump was "defining the offense of rebellion" but that "lawyers have to parse the terminology and decide all that."

Administration Reaction

During a White House press conference on later that day, when inquired by a journalist, "Is the president want to execute congressional representatives?", the executive branch representative replied: "No."

"We should understand about what the ex-commander in chief is responding to," the spokesperson declared. "You have current representatives of the US Congress who coordinated to organize a video message to individuals of the American armed forces, to active duty service members advising them to disobey the executive's legal commands."

She stated: "The purity of our military relies on the hierarchy, and if that structure is violated, it can cause fatalities, it can cause disorder, and that's what these members of Congress ... are essentially encouraging."