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Democratic officials demonstrated fury after former President Donald Trump accused a group of Democratic legislators of being "traitors" and asserted they should be taken into custody and punished "through capital punishment" following their publication of a controversial video.

The Recording That Triggered the Controversy

The video footage, published on Tuesday, features six Democratic lawmakers who in the past served in military or intelligence capacities.

"Similar to us, you all took an oath to safeguard and support this founding document," the representatives declared in the 90-second video. "At present, the threats to our constitution don't only come from abroad, but from within our own country. Our laws are clear, you can decline improper directives, you can reject unlawful commands, you must refuse unlawful commands. No one has to carry out commands that contravene the legal system or our founding principles."

Donald Trump's Furious Reply

The clip seemed to provoke a heated response from the former president.

On Thursday morning, Trump wrote on his preferred platform: "It's called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our United States should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In an additional message, he stated: "This is really bad, and Harmful to our United States. Their words cannot be enabled to persist. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a third publication, he continued: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, liable by DEATH!" He also shared a declaration that said: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Party Officials Respond

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

"Political violence has no role in America," they declared. "Congress members who appeared in the video all acted our United States with exceptional patriotism and honor. We clearly denounce Donald Trump's appalling and risky threats of violence against congressional representatives, and call on GOP representatives to forcefully do the same."

The party representatives also stated that they had been in contact with security officials "to guarantee the safety of these officials and their loved ones."

"Donald Trump must right away remove these radical social media posts and withdraw his violent rhetoric before he causes harm," the declaration continued.

Lawmakers' Firm Answer

The lawmakers who appeared in the video also published a declaration.

"We serve as veterans and national security professionals who care for this nation and took an oath to safeguard and uphold the founding document of the United States," they stated. "Our pledge is permanent, and we aim to honor it. No threat, intimidation, or incitement will deter us from that important responsibility."

"What's most telling is that the ex-president deems it subject to penalty by execution for us to repeat the law," they stated. "Armed forces members should know that we have their support as they fulfill their vow to the national charter and duty to follow only legal commands. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They continued: "Every American must join forces and condemn the former president's requests for our execution and ideological conflict. This is a moment for ethical certainty."

Additional Political Responses

The Democratic Senate minority leader also condemned Trump's comments and shared on social media: "It's important to understand: the President of the United States is calling for the capital punishment of elected officials."

He stated: "This represents an direct THREAT. Every Senator, each house member, the entire nation – regardless of party – should denounce this immediately and without qualification."

The GOP leader justified Trump's claim that the Democrats had engaged in "rebellion", describing the video as "highly unsuitable", adding: "This represents very risky, you have important representatives of the legislature telling troops to ignore directives, I think that represents without precedent in US history."

The GOP official also reportedly told journalists that in what he read of Trump's messages, Trump was "defining the crime of treason" but that "legal experts have to examine the language and establish all that."

White House Response

During a White House press conference on that day, when inquired by a journalist, "Would the president want to put to death elected officials?", the White House press secretary answered: "No."

"It's important to note about what the former president is reacting to," the spokesperson said. "There are current representatives of the federal government who conspired to orchestrate a video message to individuals of the US military, to active duty service members urging them to defy the president's proper directives."

She stated: "The integrity of our defense system rests on the command structure, and if that system is broken, it can lead to casualties, it can cause confusion, and that is exactly what these elected officials ... are fundamentally encouraging."