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Democratic officials voiced fury after former President Donald Trump charged a coalition of Democratic congress members of being "traitors" and declared they should be detained and penalized "through capital punishment" following their publication of a disputed video.

The Content That Sparked the Debate

The clip, released on Tuesday, showcases six Democratic lawmakers who previously worked in defense or intelligence roles.

"As we did, you all swore an oath to safeguard and defend this constitution," the officials declared in the 90-second video. "And right now, the threats to our governing document aren't just from abroad, but from domestically. Our regulations are unambiguous, you can decline unlawful commands, you can refuse unlawful commands, you have to refuse unlawful commands. No one has to follow commands that break the law or our constitution."

Trump's Angry Reaction

The video message seemed to trigger a heated reaction from the former president.

On later in the week, Trump posted on Truth Social: "This represents SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these betrayers to our Nation should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In another post, he declared: "This constitutes really concerning, and Risky to our Nation. Their statements cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

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

Democratic Representatives Respond

Following Trump's remarks on that day, House Democratic leader published a joint announcement condemning the remarks.

"Partisan aggression has no role in this nation," they wrote. "Elected officials who were featured in the video all served our United States with exceptional national pride and honor. We clearly condemn Donald Trump's offensive and harmful threats of violence against members of Congress, and appeal to GOP representatives to vigorously do the same."

The Democratic leaders also stated that they had been in contact with protective services "to ensure the safety of these officials and their relatives."

"Donald Trump must without delay remove these radical digital publications and retract his aggressive discourse before he gets someone killed," the declaration stated.

Officials' Firm Answer

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

"We are ex-military personnel and defense specialists who love this country and made an oath to safeguard and defend the national charter of the United States," they said. "That oath is permanent, and we intend to keep it. No threat, pressure, or incitement will deter us from that fundamental obligation."

"The significant point is that the ex-president deems it subject to penalty by execution for us to reiterate the law," they added. "Our service members should recognize that we have their protection as they execute their pledge to the founding principles and obligation to obey only proper directives. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They added: "The entire nation must come together and condemn the president's calls for our death and ideological conflict. This is a time for moral clarity."

Further Governmental Comments

The Democratic Senate minority leader also denounced Trump's remarks and published on online networks: "It's important to understand: the ex-commander in chief is calling for the capital punishment of government members."

He stated: "This represents an direct THREAT. Each congressional member, every Representative, every American – without partisan consideration – should condemn this without delay and without qualification."

The Republican House speaker defended Trump's allegation that the Democrats had engaged in "sedition", labeling the video as "highly unsuitable", adding: "This constitutes very harmful, you have important representatives of the legislature telling military personnel to ignore directives, I think that's historic in US history."

The Republican leader also according to sources stated to journalists that in what he examined of Trump's messages, Trump was "describing the offense of rebellion" but that "lawyers have to parse the terminology and establish all that."

Executive Branch Response

During a White House press conference on Thursday afternoon, when questioned by a reporter, "Would the president want to kill congressional representatives?", the White House press secretary answered: "Certainly not."

"It's important to note about what the president is reacting to," the official declared. "There are active officials of the US Congress who worked together to orchestrate a recorded statement to personnel of the US military, to current military personnel encouraging them to ignore the executive's lawful orders."

She said: "The purity of our armed forces relies on the hierarchy, and if that chain of command is compromised, it can result in casualties, it can result in disorder, and that is exactly what these members of Congress ... are fundamentally supporting."