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Democratic officials expressed fury after the ex-president accused a contingent of Democratic congress members of being "turncoats" and asserted they should be taken into custody and penalized "with execution" following their release of a contentious video.

The Content That Triggered the Dispute

The recorded message, shared on Tuesday, features six Democratic congress members who in the past worked in armed forces or intelligence roles.

"Like us, you all made an oath to defend and defend this founding document," the officials affirmed in the short video. "And right now, the risks to our democratic foundation are not only from foreign nations, but from domestically. Our laws are unambiguous, you can reject unlawful commands, you can refuse improper directives, you should reject improper directives. No one has to follow directives that break the law or our national charter."

The Former President's Incensed Response

The video message seemed to provoke a furious response from the former president.

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

In an additional message, he wrote: "This is really concerning, and Harmful to our United States. Their statements cannot be allowed to remain. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a subsequent publication, he continued: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, liable by DEATH!" He also shared a comment that stated: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Democratic Leaders React

Following Trump's comments on Thursday, House Democratic leader published a combined announcement denouncing the statements.

"Partisan aggression has no position in the United States," they wrote. "Representatives who were featured in the video all acted our United States with great patriotism and distinction. We unequivocally condemn Donald Trump's offensive and dangerous death threats against congressional representatives, and call on Republican lawmakers to strongly do the same."

The Democratic leaders also said that they had been in contact with law enforcement "to ensure the safety of these representatives and their relatives."

"Donald Trump must right away delete these extreme digital publications and recant his violent language before he leads to violence," the statement stated.

Lawmakers' Firm Response

The lawmakers who participated in the video also released a statement.

"We are former service members and national security professionals who care for this United States and took an vow to safeguard and uphold the national charter of the United States," they stated. "This commitment continues forever, and we aim to maintain it. No warning, intimidation, or incitement will deter us from that sacred duty."

"The most revealing aspect is that the president deems it liable to punishment by capital punishment for us to restate the law," they added. "Military personnel should know that we have their backs as they execute their pledge to the national charter and duty to obey only lawful orders. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They continued: "All citizens must unite and condemn the former president's requests for our murder and political violence. This is a period for moral clarity."

More Political Reactions

The Senate Democratic leader also censured Trump's statements and published on online networks: "Let's be crystal clear: the former president is calling for the capital punishment of government members."

He stated: "This represents an outright THREAT. All senators, every Representative, every American – without partisan consideration – should denounce this right away and absolutely."

The GOP leader justified Trump's assertion that the Democrats had engaged in "rebellion", characterizing the video as "wildly inappropriate", adding: "This represents very dangerous, you have prominent officials of Congress telling soldiers to defy commands, I think that is unprecedented in American history."

The GOP official also reportedly informed media outlets that in what he read of Trump's messages, Trump was "describing the crime of sedition" but that "attorneys have to analyze the terminology and decide all that."

White House Reaction

During a executive branch meeting on later that day, when inquired by a media member, "Does the president want to kill congressional representatives?", the White House press secretary responded: "Certainly not."

"It's important to note about what the president is addressing," the spokesperson stated. "You have current representatives of the federal government who conspired to arrange a recorded statement to personnel of the US military, to current military personnel encouraging them to defy the executive's proper directives."

She said: "The sanctity of our armed forces relies on the chain of command, and if that system is broken, it can cause fatalities, it can lead to disorder, and that is exactly what these congressional representatives ... are basically supporting."