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Democratic officials expressed fury after Donald Trump alleged a group of Democratic legislators of being "betrayers" and declared they should be detained and sentenced "by death" following their posting of a disputed video.

The Content That Triggered the Debate

The video footage, shared on Tuesday, includes six Democratic congress members who in the past served in military or security positions.

"Like us, you all made an vow to defend and support this national charter," the representatives affirmed in the short video. "And right now, the threats to our democratic foundation aren't just from abroad, but from domestically. Our laws are unambiguous, you can decline unlawful commands, you can reject illegal orders, you must decline unlawful commands. No one has to carry out commands that break the legal system or our constitution."

The Former President's Angry Reply

The recorded statement appeared to trigger a furious reply from the previous commander-in-chief.

On later in the week, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "It's called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these turncoats to our United States should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In a separate message, he declared: "This constitutes really concerning, and Dangerous to our Nation. Their comments cannot be enabled to remain. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a subsequent publication, he added: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, liable by DEATH!" He also redistributed a statement that read: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Party Officials Answer

Following Trump's statements on that day, Top Democrats issued a unified statement denouncing the remarks.

"Political violence has no position in the United States," they declared. "Congress members who were featured in the video all acted our nation with great patriotism and honor. We unequivocally condemn Donald Trump's disgusting and harmful threats of violence against members of Congress, and call on GOP representatives to strongly do the same."

The Democratic leaders also stated that they had been in touch with security officials "to guarantee the security of these representatives and their relatives."

"Donald Trump must without delay delete these radical online messages and recant his aggressive discourse before he gets someone killed," the statement added.

Representatives' Defiant Response

The lawmakers who were featured in the video also released a response.

"We identify as former service members and national security professionals who care for this United States and swore an oath to protect and defend the constitution of the United States," they declared. "That oath continues forever, and we plan to honor it. No warning, coercion, or call for violence will deter us from that fundamental duty."

"What's most telling is that the ex-president considers it punishable by execution for us to restate the legal requirements," they stated. "Our service members should know that we have their backs as they carry out their vow to the founding principles and duty to obey only proper directives. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They added: "The entire nation must join forces and censure the ex-president's requests for our execution and partisan aggression. This is a moment for ethical certainty."

Additional Governmental Comments

The Opposition leader also condemned Trump's statements and shared on online networks: "Let's be crystal clear: the ex-commander in chief is requesting the execution of elected officials."

He stated: "This constitutes an clear THREAT. Each congressional member, all representatives, all citizens – regardless of party – should denounce this right away and unconditionally."

The GOP leader justified Trump's allegation that the Democrats had participated in "rebellion", characterizing the video as "wildly inappropriate", stating: "It is very risky, you have leading members of the government instructing troops to defy commands, I think that represents without precedent in American history."

The GOP official also reportedly stated to the press that in what he reviewed of Trump's messages, Trump was "describing the crime of rebellion" but that "lawyers have to parse the terminology and decide all that."

Administration Statement

During a White House press conference on that day, when questioned by a journalist, "Does the president want to kill elected officials?", the White House press secretary replied: "Absolutely not."

"We should understand about what the president is reacting to," the spokesperson stated. "You have sitting members of the American legislature who conspired to organize a digital communication to individuals of the US military, to active duty service members urging them to defy the executive's legal commands."

She said: "The integrity of our armed forces relies on the command structure, and if that system is violated, it can cause people getting killed, it can lead to confusion, and that's what these congressional representatives ... are essentially supporting."