🔗 Share this article Democratic lawmakers Condemn Trump After He Suggests They Should Face Death Penalty Lawmakers from the Democratic party voiced outrage after former President Donald Trump alleged a coalition of Democratic congress members of being "traitors" and declared they should be taken into custody and penalized "with execution" following their release of a contentious video. The Content That Provoked the Dispute The clip, published on earlier this week, showcases six Democratic lawmakers who in the past worked in military or defense capacities. "As we did, you all swore an vow to defend and support this constitution," the lawmakers stated in the 90-second video. "Currently, the risks to our constitution are not only from overseas, but from within our own country. Our laws are unambiguous, you can refuse unlawful commands, you can refuse improper directives, you have to decline illegal orders. No one has to follow directives that contravene the legal system or our constitution." The Former President's Furious Response The video message reportedly prompt a angry reply from the previous commander-in-chief. On Thursday morning, Trump published on his social media platform: "This represents SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL." In another message, he stated: "This constitutes really concerning, and Dangerous to our United States. Their comments cannot be permitted to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???" In a subsequent message, he added: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, liable by DEATH!" He also reposted a declaration that read: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!" Opposition Leaders Answer Following Trump's remarks on that day, Top Democrats released a combined declaration censuring the comments. "Partisan aggression has no role in this nation," they wrote. "Congress members who participated in the video all served our country with great loyalty and excellence. We clearly condemn Donald Trump's offensive and harmful death threats against congressional representatives, and appeal to Republican lawmakers to strongly do the same." The party representatives also stated that they had been in touch with law enforcement "to ensure the safety of these representatives and their families." "Donald Trump must without delay remove these radical online messages and retract his dangerous rhetoric before he leads to violence," the statement stated. Representatives' Strong Response The lawmakers who participated in the video also published a declaration. "We serve as veterans and national security professionals who value this nation and swore an pledge to defend and support the founding document of the United States," they stated. "That oath is permanent, and we plan to keep it. No warning, coercion, or call for violence will deter us from that important duty." "The significant point is that the president deems it liable to punishment by execution for us to repeat the law," they added. "Our service members should know that we have their protection as they execute their pledge to the constitution and duty to obey only proper directives. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our obligation." They continued: "Every American must come together and denounce the president's demands for our murder and ideological conflict. This is a time for principled stance." Additional Governmental Comments The Opposition leader also condemned Trump's remarks and posted on online networks: "It's important to understand: the President of the United States is demanding the execution of elected officials." He added: "This is an clear THREAT. All senators, each house member, all citizens – regardless of party – should denounce this right away and unconditionally." The GOP leader defended Trump's claim that the Democrats had been involved in "treason", characterizing the video as "extremely improper", commenting: "It is very harmful, you have prominent officials of Congress advising troops to defy commands, I think that's without precedent in the nation's past." The Republican leader also according to sources informed journalists that in what he reviewed of Trump's posts, Trump was "explaining the violation of treason" but that "attorneys have to parse the wording and determine all that." White House Reaction During a administration briefing on that day, when asked by a media member, "Is the president want to put to death elected officials?", the White House press secretary responded: "No." "Let's be clear about what the former president is addressing," the representative stated. "There are active officials of the American legislature who coordinated to arrange a digital communication to members of the American armed forces, to current military personnel encouraging them to disobey the commander in chief's lawful orders." She said: "The integrity of our armed forces relies on the command structure, and if that structure is compromised, it can result in people getting killed, it can result in chaos, and precisely what these congressional representatives ... are essentially supporting."