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Democratic officials expressed anger after Donald Trump charged a coalition of Democratic representatives of being "traitors" and declared they should be taken into custody and penalized "through capital punishment" following their posting of a disputed video.

The Recording That Triggered the Controversy

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

"As we did, you all took an vow to defend and uphold this founding document," the officials declared in the 90-second video. "At present, the dangers to our democratic foundation don't only come from overseas, but from within our own country. Our regulations are unambiguous, you can reject illegal orders, you can decline unlawful commands, you have to reject unlawful commands. No one has to execute orders that break the legal system or our constitution."

Donald Trump's Furious Response

The clip reportedly prompt a heated reply from the previous commander-in-chief.

On later in the week, Trump published on Truth Social: "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 a separate message, he stated: "This is really concerning, and Risky to our United States. Their words cannot be enabled to remain. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

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

Democratic Officials Answer

Following Trump's remarks on that day, Democratic leadership issued a unified statement censuring the comments.

"Political violence has no place in the United States," they stated. "Representatives who were featured in the video all served our nation with great national pride and excellence. We unequivocally censure Donald Trump's disgusting and dangerous threats of violence against elected officials, and call on House Republicans to strongly do the same."

The Democratic leaders also mentioned that they had been in touch with security officials "to ensure the protection of these members and their relatives."

"Donald Trump must immediately delete these radical digital publications and recant his violent discourse before he causes harm," the statement stated.

Lawmakers' Strong Response

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

"We serve as veterans and security experts who value this country and made an vow to defend and uphold the founding document of the United States," they said. "That oath is permanent, and we plan to keep it. No intimidation, pressure, or call for violence will prevent us from that fundamental obligation."

"What's most telling is that the ex-president considers it punishable by capital punishment for us to restate the law," they continued. "Our service members should understand that we have their support as they fulfill their oath to the founding principles and responsibility to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They stated: "Every American must come together and censure the president's calls for our murder and ideological conflict. This is a time for principled stance."

Additional Political Comments

The Democratic Senate minority leader also censured Trump's remarks and shared on online networks: "We must be absolutely clear: the former president is calling for the death of elected officials."

He added: "This is an outright THREAT. All senators, every Representative, all citizens – regardless of party – should condemn this without delay and unconditionally."

The Republican House speaker justified Trump's allegation that the Democrats had been involved in "rebellion", describing the video as "highly unsuitable", stating: "This constitutes very risky, you have leading members of the legislature telling troops to ignore directives, I think that represents historic in US history."

The Republican leader also according to sources informed media outlets that in what he read of Trump's posts, Trump was "defining the crime of treason" but that "legal experts have to analyze the wording and decide all that."

White House Response

During a executive branch meeting on later that day, when inquired by a reporter, "Does the president want to put to death members of Congress?", the executive branch representative responded: "Absolutely not."

"We should understand about what the ex-commander in chief is responding to," the representative said. "We see sitting members of the US Congress who conspired to orchestrate a digital communication to individuals of the national defense, to active duty service members advising them to defy the executive's legal commands."

She added: "The integrity of our defense system rests on the hierarchy, and if that chain of command is broken, it can cause fatalities, it can result in chaos, and precisely what these congressional representatives ... are essentially supporting."