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Lawmakers from the Democratic party voiced anger after Donald Trump accused a group of Democratic legislators of being "turncoats" and stated they should be arrested and punished "through capital punishment" following their posting of a disputed video.

The Content That Sparked the Dispute

The video footage, shared on Tuesday, includes six Democratic elected officials who in the past served in armed forces or intelligence capacities.

"Similar to us, you all made an oath to protect and defend this founding document," the lawmakers stated in the short video. "Currently, the risks to our constitution don't only come from foreign nations, but from within our own country. Our statutes are clear, you can decline improper directives, you can refuse improper directives, you have to decline improper directives. No one has to follow directives that violate the law or our national charter."

The Former President's Angry Reaction

The video message appeared to trigger a furious response from the former president.

On the following morning, 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 another post, he wrote: "This constitutes really serious, and Harmful to our Country. Their comments cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

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

Party Representatives React

Following Trump's remarks on Thursday, Democratic leadership published a combined statement condemning the comments.

"Violent politics has no position in the United States," they wrote. "Elected officials who participated in the video all served our nation with great loyalty and distinction. We clearly denounce Donald Trump's appalling and risky calls for execution against elected officials, and urge GOP representatives to forcefully do the same."

The opposition officials also mentioned that they had been in touch with law enforcement "to guarantee the protection of these officials and their relatives."

"Donald Trump must immediately take down these extreme social media posts and retract his aggressive rhetoric before he gets someone killed," the statement added.

Representatives' Strong Reaction

The officials who participated in the video also issued a declaration.

"We are ex-military personnel and national security professionals who care for this country and swore an oath to safeguard and uphold the constitution of the United States," they declared. "Our pledge is permanent, and we intend to keep it. No threat, coercion, or call for violence will stop us from that sacred duty."

"The significant point is that the ex-president considers it liable to punishment by death for us to reiterate the legal requirements," they added. "Our service members should understand that we have their backs as they fulfill their pledge to the constitution and obligation to follow only proper directives. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They continued: "The entire nation must come together and denounce the ex-president's requests for our murder and partisan aggression. This is a moment for moral clarity."

More Political Responses

The Democratic Senate minority leader also denounced Trump's remarks and posted on online networks: "It's important to understand: the ex-commander in chief is demanding the death of government members."

He continued: "This is an outright THREAT. Each congressional member, every Representative, the entire nation – irrespective of political affiliation – should denounce this immediately and without qualification."

The Republican House speaker justified Trump's claim that the Democrats had been involved in "treason", describing the video as "extremely improper", stating: "This represents very harmful, you have prominent officials of the government telling troops to disobey orders, I think that represents unprecedented in US history."

The Republican leader also according to sources told media outlets that in what he reviewed of Trump's messages, Trump was "defining the violation of sedition" but that "legal experts have to parse the terminology and establish all that."

Executive Branch Response

During a executive branch meeting on later that day, when asked by a media member, "Would the president want to execute members of Congress?", the White House press secretary answered: "No."

"Let's be clear about what the president is reacting to," the representative declared. "There are sitting members of the federal government who conspired to organize a digital communication to members of the US military, to current military personnel urging them to defy the commander in chief's legal commands."

She said: "The integrity of our military rests on the hierarchy, and if that system is violated, it can lead to fatalities, it can result in chaos, and that's what these congressional representatives ... are essentially encouraging."