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Democratic officials expressed fury after former President Donald Trump accused a group of Democratic legislators of being "traitors" and stated they should be arrested and sentenced "by death" following their release of a controversial video.

The Recording That Provoked the Controversy

The video footage, shared on Tuesday, features six Democratic lawmakers who formerly worked in armed forces or defense roles.

"As we did, you all made an vow to protect and support this founding document," the officials stated in the brief video. "Currently, the risks to our constitution don't only come from foreign nations, but from right here at home. Our statutes are explicit, you can decline unlawful commands, you can reject illegal orders, you should refuse improper directives. No one has to follow commands that violate the legal system or our national charter."

The Former President's Incensed Response

The recorded statement reportedly provoke a furious reaction from the previous commander-in-chief.

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

In a separate message, he wrote: "This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Nation. Their comments cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a third message, he added: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" He also redistributed a comment that stated: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Party Representatives Respond

Following Trump's comments on that day, Top Democrats released a combined declaration censuring the remarks.

"Violent politics has no place in America," they wrote. "Representatives who appeared in the video all acted our nation with tremendous loyalty and distinction. We clearly censure Donald Trump's offensive and dangerous death threats against elected officials, and call on GOP representatives to vigorously do the same."

The party representatives also said that they had been in contact with law enforcement "to guarantee the security of these members and their relatives."

"Donald Trump must without delay delete these unhinged online messages and recant his dangerous language before he gets someone killed," the statement added.

Lawmakers' Firm Answer

The officials who were featured in the video also released a statement.

"We identify as ex-military personnel and security experts who care for this country and swore an oath to safeguard and support the founding document of the United States," they said. "That oath is permanent, and we intend to keep it. No threat, pressure, or promotion of aggression will deter us from that sacred duty."

"What's most telling is that the president considers it subject to penalty by execution for us to repeat the law," they added. "Armed forces members should recognize that we have their support as they fulfill their oath to the national charter and duty to obey only proper directives. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our duty."

They continued: "All citizens must come together and censure the president's calls for our death and ideological conflict. This is a period for principled stance."

Further Governmental Reactions

The Senate Democratic leader also denounced Trump's statements and shared on digital platforms: "We must be absolutely clear: the President of the United States is demanding the execution of elected officials."

He continued: "This is an direct THREAT. Each congressional member, all representatives, every American – without partisan consideration – should denounce this immediately and unconditionally."

The Republican House speaker justified Trump's claim that the Democrats had engaged in "treason", characterizing the video as "wildly inappropriate", stating: "This constitutes very dangerous, you have important representatives of the legislature telling troops to disobey orders, I think that's without precedent in US history."

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

White House Reaction

During a executive branch meeting on later that day, when questioned by a reporter, "Is the president want to execute members of Congress?", the White House press secretary replied: "Absolutely not."

"We should understand about what the ex-commander in chief is addressing," the spokesperson said. "There are sitting members of the federal government who conspired to organize a video message to members of the national defense, to active duty service members urging them to ignore the executive's proper directives."

She added: "The integrity of our military rests on the command structure, and if that structure is compromised, it can result in fatalities, it can cause confusion, and that is exactly what these members of Congress ... are fundamentally encouraging."