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Democratic officials voiced anger after Donald Trump alleged a coalition of Democratic representatives of being "traitors" and declared they should be detained and penalized "by death" following their release of a disputed video.

The Message That Triggered the Dispute

The clip, shared on earlier this week, showcases six Democratic congress members who formerly worked in armed forces or defense positions.

"As we did, you all took an oath to defend and support this founding document," the officials affirmed in the short video. "At present, the threats to our democratic foundation aren't just from overseas, but from domestically. Our laws are unambiguous, you can decline unlawful commands, you can reject illegal orders, you have to reject improper directives. No one has to carry out directives that violate the law or our constitution."

The Former President's Furious Response

The video message seemed to trigger a angry reaction from the former president.

On later in the week, Trump published on Truth Social: "This represents SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In an additional message, he declared: "This constitutes really bad, and Harmful to our Nation. Their comments cannot be permitted to remain. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a subsequent message, he stated: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, subject to punishment by DEATH!" He also shared a declaration that stated: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Party Officials Respond

Following Trump's comments on that day, House Democratic leader published a combined statement denouncing the remarks.

"Partisan aggression has no role in the United States," they stated. "Representatives who participated in the video all served our country with great loyalty and distinction. We unequivocally censure Donald Trump's disgusting and dangerous threats of violence against elected officials, and urge Republican lawmakers to vigorously do the same."

The party representatives also said that they had been in contact with protective services "to make certain the security of these representatives and their families."

"Donald Trump must right away delete these radical digital publications and retract his dangerous rhetoric before he gets someone killed," the declaration continued.

Representatives' Strong Response

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

"We identify as veterans and national security professionals who value this United States and took an oath to safeguard and uphold the founding document of the United States," they said. "This commitment continues forever, and we intend to keep it. No intimidation, coercion, or incitement will deter us from that important obligation."

"What's most telling is that the president considers it liable to punishment by execution for us to repeat the law," they stated. "Our service members should know that we have their backs as they carry out their oath to the national charter and obligation to obey only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They stated: "All citizens must unite and censure the president's requests for our execution and political violence. This is a moment for ethical certainty."

Additional Partisan Responses

The Democratic Senate minority leader also denounced Trump's statements and published on digital platforms: "It's important to understand: the President of the United States is calling for the execution of government members."

He added: "This is an direct THREAT. All senators, all representatives, every American – without partisan consideration – should condemn this immediately and absolutely."

The Conservative official supported Trump's assertion that the Democrats had participated in "sedition", labeling the video as "wildly inappropriate", commenting: "This constitutes very risky, you have leading members of Congress instructing military personnel to ignore directives, I think that represents without precedent in US history."

The GOP official also reportedly stated to the press that in what he read of Trump's publications, Trump was "defining the violation of sedition" but that "legal experts have to parse the wording and determine all that."

White House Reaction

During a administration briefing on that day, when inquired by a journalist, "Would the president want to put to death congressional representatives?", the executive branch representative responded: "No."

"We should understand about what the former president is reacting to," the representative stated. "There are current representatives of the federal government who conspired to orchestrate a video message to personnel of the national defense, to current military personnel encouraging them to disobey the commander in chief's proper directives."

She said: "The purity of our armed forces depends on the hierarchy, and if that structure is violated, it can cause people getting killed, it can cause confusion, and precisely what these congressional representatives ... are basically encouraging."