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Lawmakers from the Democratic party expressed fury after the ex-president charged a group of Democratic congress members of being "turncoats" and asserted they should be detained and sentenced "with execution" following their posting of a contentious video.

The Message That Triggered the Controversy

The video footage, published on Tuesday, includes six Democratic elected officials who previously worked in military or defense capacities.

"As we did, you all swore an vow to defend and uphold this constitution," the officials declared in the short video. "And right now, the dangers to our democratic foundation aren't just from overseas, but from domestically. Our statutes are unambiguous, you can decline unlawful commands, you can reject improper directives, you have to refuse unlawful commands. No one has to carry out commands that contravene the legal system or our founding principles."

Donald Trump's Incensed Reaction

The recorded statement reportedly prompt a heated response from the previous commander-in-chief.

On the following morning, Trump posted 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 another publication, he wrote: "This is really serious, and Harmful to our Nation. Their comments cannot be enabled to persist. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a subsequent publication, he continued: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, liable by DEATH!" He also reposted a comment that read: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Democratic Officials Respond

Following Trump's remarks on Thursday, Democratic leadership released a combined statement censuring the statements.

"Partisan aggression has no role in this nation," they declared. "Elected officials who appeared in the video all served our United States with exceptional loyalty and distinction. We unequivocally condemn Donald Trump's offensive and harmful threats of violence against congressional representatives, and urge House Republicans to forcefully 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 loved ones."

"Donald Trump must without delay take down these extreme online messages and withdraw his dangerous rhetoric before he gets someone killed," the declaration stated.

Officials' Defiant Answer

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

"We are ex-military personnel and security experts who care for this country and swore an oath to defend and uphold the constitution of the United States," they said. "Our pledge continues forever, and we plan to honor it. No intimidation, coercion, or call for violence will prevent us from that fundamental responsibility."

"The significant point is that the president views it liable to punishment by capital punishment for us to reiterate the law," they added. "Our service members should understand that we have their backs as they carry out their vow to the founding principles and responsibility to adhere to only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They stated: "The entire nation must join forces and censure the president's requests for our murder and partisan aggression. This is a moment for principled stance."

Additional Political Comments

The Senate Democratic leader also censured Trump's comments and published on digital platforms: "We must be absolutely clear: the ex-commander in chief is demanding the execution of public representatives."

He continued: "This represents an outright THREAT. Every Senator, every Representative, every American – irrespective of political affiliation – should condemn this immediately and unconditionally."

The Conservative official defended Trump's claim that the Democrats had participated in "rebellion", characterizing the video as "wildly inappropriate", stating: "This represents very harmful, you have prominent officials of Congress telling soldiers to disobey orders, I think that's unprecedented in US history."

The GOP official also reportedly stated to media outlets that in what he reviewed of Trump's messages, Trump was "describing the offense of sedition" but that "lawyers have to parse the terminology and establish all that."

Executive Branch Reaction

During a administration briefing on Thursday afternoon, when inquired by a reporter, "Is the president want to put to death elected officials?", the executive branch representative responded: "Absolutely not."

"We should understand about what the president is responding to," the official stated. "There are sitting members of the US Congress who worked together to orchestrate a digital communication to members of the American armed forces, to active duty service members encouraging them to defy the commander in chief's proper directives."

She said: "The purity of our armed forces depends on the hierarchy, and if that system is broken, it can lead to people getting killed, it can result in confusion, and that's what these congressional representatives ... are essentially promoting."