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Democratic officials demonstrated outrage after the ex-president alleged a group of Democratic legislators of being "turncoats" and asserted they should be detained and sentenced "by death" following their release of a disputed video.

The Content That Sparked the Dispute

The clip, released on earlier this week, showcases six Democratic congress members who in the past worked in military or security positions.

"Like us, you all swore an pledge to protect and uphold this constitution," the lawmakers affirmed in the 90-second video. "At present, the risks to our constitution don't only come from abroad, but from right here at home. Our statutes are clear, you can refuse illegal orders, you can reject improper directives, you should decline illegal orders. No one has to execute directives that violate the statutes or our constitution."

Trump's Furious Response

The clip appeared to provoke a angry reaction from the ex-president.

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

In an additional publication, he wrote: "This is really bad, and Risky to our United States. Their comments cannot be permitted to persist. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a additional post, he continued: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, liable by DEATH!" He also redistributed a statement that said: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Democratic Leaders Answer

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

"Political violence has no role in this nation," they wrote. "Elected officials who appeared in the video all worked our nation with exceptional patriotism and distinction. We clearly condemn Donald Trump's appalling and risky threats of violence against elected officials, and appeal to Republican lawmakers to strongly do the same."

The Democratic leaders also stated that they had been in contact with security officials "to make certain the protection of these members and their loved ones."

"Donald Trump must right away remove these radical social media posts and withdraw his dangerous rhetoric before he causes harm," the declaration stated.

Lawmakers' Defiant Answer

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

"We are veterans and national security professionals who love this United States and took an oath to defend and uphold the national charter of the United States," they stated. "This commitment continues forever, and we plan to honor it. No threat, coercion, or call for violence will stop us from that fundamental obligation."

"What's most telling is that the ex-president views it subject to penalty by execution for us to reiterate the law," they continued. "Military personnel should know that we have their support as they execute their pledge to the founding principles and responsibility to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our obligation."

They continued: "Every American must unite and condemn the ex-president's demands for our death and ideological conflict. This is a moment for moral clarity."

Further Political Reactions

The Democratic Senate minority leader also condemned Trump's remarks and shared on social media: "Let's be crystal clear: the President of the United States is demanding the execution of elected officials."

He stated: "This represents an clear THREAT. Every Senator, all representatives, every American – without partisan consideration – should denounce this right away and unconditionally."

The Conservative official justified Trump's claim that the Democrats had engaged in "rebellion", characterizing the video as "wildly inappropriate", commenting: "This represents very dangerous, you have important representatives of the government instructing troops to ignore directives, I think that represents unprecedented in the nation's past."

The GOP official also allegedly stated to journalists that in what he reviewed of Trump's messages, Trump was "describing the crime of sedition" but that "lawyers have to examine the terminology and establish all that."

White House Response

During a executive branch meeting on that day, when inquired by a journalist, "Is the president want to execute congressional representatives?", the White House press secretary responded: "Absolutely not."

"It's important to note about what the former president is responding to," the official declared. "There are active officials of the US Congress who conspired to organize a digital communication to personnel of the national defense, to current military personnel encouraging them to disobey the executive's legal commands."

She stated: "The purity of our military depends on the chain of command, and if that chain of command is broken, it can result in people getting killed, it can cause chaos, and that's what these congressional representatives ... are fundamentally encouraging."