Democratic officials voiced outrage after Donald Trump charged a contingent of Democratic legislators of being "turncoats" and declared they should be detained and penalized "by death" following their release of a contentious video.
The video footage, published on Tuesday, features six Democratic elected officials who previously served in defense or defense roles.
"Similar to us, you all swore an pledge to protect and uphold this founding document," the representatives stated in the 90-second video. "Currently, the dangers to our democratic foundation aren't just from foreign nations, but from right here at home. Our laws are explicit, you can decline unlawful commands, you can decline improper directives, you have to refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out commands that contravene the law or our national charter."
The video message appeared to trigger a angry response from the former president.
On Thursday morning, Trump wrote on his preferred platform: "This constitutes 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 declared: "This represents really bad, and Risky to our United States. Their statements cannot be permitted to remain. 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 !!"
Following Trump's comments on Thursday, House Democratic leader published a joint statement condemning the remarks.
"Violent politics has no role in this nation," they declared. "Elected officials who appeared in the video all worked our country with great patriotism and excellence. We strongly condemn Donald Trump's appalling and dangerous death threats against elected officials, and call on Republican lawmakers to vigorously do the same."
The party representatives also said that they had been in contact with security officials "to ensure the protection of these officials and their families."
"Donald Trump must without delay delete these unhinged digital publications and recant his dangerous discourse before he causes harm," the announcement stated.
The officials who were featured in the video also issued a statement.
"We identify as veterans and defense specialists who love this nation and swore an pledge to protect and support the founding document of the United States," they stated. "Our pledge is permanent, and we plan to keep it. No intimidation, coercion, or promotion of aggression will prevent us from that important responsibility."
"The significant point is that the former president considers it subject to penalty by execution for us to repeat the law," they continued. "Military personnel should know that we have their backs as they fulfill their vow to the founding principles and responsibility to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our responsibility."
They continued: "All citizens must join forces and censure the president's demands for our death and political violence. This is a time for principled stance."
The Senate Democratic leader also censured Trump's remarks and published on digital platforms: "We must be absolutely clear: the ex-commander in chief is calling for the capital punishment of public representatives."
He stated: "This represents an direct THREAT. All senators, every Representative, all citizens – regardless of party – should condemn this immediately and unconditionally."
The GOP leader justified Trump's claim that the Democrats had engaged in "sedition", describing the video as "extremely improper", adding: "This represents very harmful, you have important representatives of the legislature telling military personnel to defy commands, I think that represents historic in the nation's past."
The GOP official also according to sources informed journalists that in what he reviewed of Trump's messages, Trump was "defining the offense of treason" but that "attorneys have to analyze the terminology and establish all that."
During a executive branch meeting on Thursday afternoon, when asked by a reporter, "Would the president want to put to death members of Congress?", the executive branch representative responded: "Absolutely not."
"We should understand about what the president is addressing," the spokesperson said. "We see current representatives of the US Congress who coordinated to organize a video message to individuals of the American armed forces, to serving soldiers advising them to disobey the commander in chief's proper directives."
She added: "The sanctity of our armed forces rests on the command structure, and if that system is violated, it can lead to casualties, it can result in confusion, and that is exactly what these members of Congress ... are essentially encouraging."
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