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Lawmakers from the Democratic party demonstrated anger after former President Donald Trump accused a group of Democratic congress members of being "traitors" and declared they should be taken into custody and penalized "by death" following their release of a contentious video.

The Content That Triggered the Controversy

The clip, released on earlier this week, showcases six Democratic lawmakers who formerly acted in military or defense capacities.

"As we did, you all swore an pledge to protect and defend this constitution," the lawmakers affirmed in the brief video. "At present, the risks to our democratic foundation are not only from overseas, but from right here at home. Our regulations are clear, you can decline unlawful commands, you can decline illegal orders, you should refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the legal system or our constitution."

Donald Trump's Incensed Reaction

The video message seemed to prompt a heated reply from the former president.

On Thursday morning, Trump published on Truth Social: "This represents SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these turncoats to our Nation should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In a separate post, he declared: "This constitutes really concerning, and Harmful to our Nation. Their words cannot be enabled to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a additional post, he stated: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, subject to punishment by DEATH!" He also shared a statement that said: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Party Officials Respond

Following Trump's statements on Thursday, Democratic leadership published a unified declaration censuring the statements.

"Violent politics has no position in this nation," they declared. "Elected officials who appeared in the video all served our country with great loyalty and distinction. We unequivocally denounce Donald Trump's appalling and dangerous death threats against elected officials, and appeal to Republican lawmakers to forcefully do the same."

The opposition officials also mentioned that they had been in contact with protective services "to guarantee the safety of these officials and their relatives."

"Donald Trump must immediately remove these unhinged social media posts and retract his dangerous language before he causes harm," the declaration stated.

Representatives' Firm Response

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

"We serve as former service members and national security professionals who love this country and swore an pledge to safeguard and defend the constitution of the United States," they stated. "Our pledge continues forever, and we aim to honor it. No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will stop us from that important duty."

"The significant point is that the former president considers it punishable by death for us to restate the legal requirements," they stated. "Military personnel should recognize that we have their support as they carry out their oath to the founding principles and responsibility to obey only legal commands. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our duty."

They added: "Every American must come together and denounce the ex-president's calls for our execution and ideological conflict. This is a period for moral clarity."

Further Partisan Reactions

The Senate Democratic leader also condemned Trump's statements and published on online networks: "It's important to understand: the President of the United States is calling for the capital punishment of elected officials."

He continued: "This represents an direct THREAT. All senators, each house member, all citizens – without partisan consideration – should censure this without delay and unconditionally."

The Conservative official supported Trump's claim that the Democrats had engaged in "treason", characterizing the video as "highly unsuitable", commenting: "This represents very harmful, you have prominent officials of the legislature advising military personnel to disobey orders, I think that's historic in US history."

The Conservative representative also reportedly informed media outlets that in what he reviewed of Trump's publications, Trump was "defining the violation of rebellion" but that "lawyers have to parse the terminology and determine all that."

Administration Reaction

During a executive branch meeting on Thursday afternoon, when asked by a journalist, "Would the president want to put to death congressional representatives?", the administration spokesperson answered: "Certainly not."

"It's important to note about what the former president is responding to," the representative stated. "We see sitting members of the American legislature who coordinated to arrange a digital communication to individuals of the US military, to serving soldiers urging them to disobey the president's legal commands."

She stated: "The purity of our defense system relies on the command structure, and if that structure is violated, it can result in casualties, it can lead to chaos, and precisely what these congressional representatives ... are fundamentally promoting."