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Lawmakers from the Democratic party demonstrated anger after the ex-president charged a coalition of Democratic representatives of being "betrayers" and asserted they should be arrested and punished "through capital punishment" following their release of a controversial video.

The Content That Provoked the Controversy

The clip, shared on earlier this week, features six Democratic elected officials who formerly worked in armed forces or defense roles.

"Similar to us, you all took an pledge to safeguard and uphold this national charter," the lawmakers affirmed in the 90-second video. "Currently, the risks to our governing document are not only from overseas, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear, you can reject improper directives, you can reject illegal orders, you have to decline unlawful commands. No one has to follow directives that break the legal system or our national charter."

The Former President's Angry Reply

The recorded statement reportedly trigger a heated reaction from the ex-president.

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

In an additional publication, he wrote: "This constitutes really concerning, and Harmful to our Nation. Their statements cannot be permitted to persist. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a third publication, he stated: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, subject to punishment by DEATH!" He also shared a declaration that read: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Democratic Officials Respond

Following Trump's remarks on that day, House Democratic leader issued a joint statement condemning the comments.

"Political violence has no place in America," they stated. "Representatives who participated in the video all served our nation with great patriotism and excellence. We clearly denounce Donald Trump's offensive and dangerous threats of violence against elected officials, and appeal to GOP representatives to strongly do the same."

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

"Donald Trump must immediately delete these extreme online messages and retract his dangerous language before he leads to violence," the announcement continued.

Lawmakers' Strong Response

The lawmakers who were featured in the video also published a declaration.

"We serve as ex-military personnel and security experts who love this United States and swore an vow to protect and uphold the founding document of the United States," they declared. "This commitment is permanent, and we plan to maintain it. No intimidation, pressure, or promotion of aggression will stop us from that sacred responsibility."

"The most revealing aspect is that the ex-president views it liable to punishment by capital punishment for us to repeat the law," they added. "Military personnel should know that we have their protection as they carry out their vow to the founding principles and obligation to obey only legal commands. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our obligation."

They continued: "All citizens must come together and condemn the former president's requests for our death and ideological conflict. This is a moment for principled stance."

Additional Partisan Responses

The Senate Democratic leader also condemned Trump's comments and published on social media: "We must be absolutely clear: the President of the United States is calling for the execution of elected officials."

He stated: "This is an clear THREAT. All senators, all representatives, all citizens – regardless of party – should censure this right away and without qualification."

The GOP leader defended Trump's assertion that the Democrats had engaged in "sedition", labeling the video as "highly unsuitable", commenting: "It is very dangerous, you have leading members of the government instructing soldiers to defy commands, I think that is unprecedented in the nation's past."

The GOP official also reportedly told the press that in what he read of Trump's publications, Trump was "explaining the offense of rebellion" but that "legal experts have to parse the wording and determine all that."

Administration Response

During a administration briefing on that day, when questioned by a reporter, "Would the president want to execute congressional representatives?", the executive branch representative answered: "Absolutely not."

"Let's be clear about what the ex-commander in chief is reacting to," the official stated. "You have sitting members of the US Congress who worked together to orchestrate a digital communication to personnel of the national defense, to serving soldiers advising them to ignore the executive's legal commands."

She said: "The sanctity of our defense system depends on the chain of command, and if that structure is compromised, it can lead to fatalities, it can result in chaos, and precisely what these members of Congress ... are basically promoting."