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Lawmakers from the Democratic party expressed outrage after Donald Trump alleged a coalition of Democratic congress members of being "traitors" and stated they should be detained and sentenced "with execution" following their posting of a disputed video.

The Recording That Triggered the Debate

The clip, shared on earlier this week, features six Democratic lawmakers who previously served in armed forces or security capacities.

"Like us, you all made an oath to defend and uphold this national charter," the lawmakers stated in the 90-second video. "Currently, the risks to our governing document don't only come from overseas, but from domestically. Our statutes are explicit, you can refuse unlawful commands, you can decline illegal orders, you must reject illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that contravene the legal system or our constitution."

Trump's Incensed Response

The video message reportedly prompt a heated reaction from the ex-president.

On later in the week, Trump wrote 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 another message, he declared: "This is really concerning, and Harmful to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to remain. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

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

Democratic Officials Respond

Following Trump's comments on Thursday, House Democratic leader released a combined announcement denouncing the remarks.

"Political violence has no role in the United States," they wrote. "Representatives who were featured in the video all served our country with exceptional national pride and honor. We clearly censure Donald Trump's disgusting and risky threats of violence against congressional representatives, and urge Republican lawmakers to forcefully do the same."

The party representatives also mentioned that they had been in contact with law enforcement "to guarantee the security of these officials and their loved ones."

"Donald Trump must right away remove these extreme online messages and recant his violent rhetoric before he leads to violence," the declaration added.

Officials' Strong Reaction

The representatives who participated in the video also published a response.

"We serve as ex-military personnel and defense specialists who love this nation and made an oath to defend and defend the constitution of the United States," they stated. "Our pledge lasts a lifetime, and we intend to maintain it. No intimidation, coercion, or call for violence will deter us from that important obligation."

"The most revealing aspect is that the ex-president considers it punishable by death for us to restate the legal requirements," they continued. "Military personnel should recognize that we have their backs as they fulfill their pledge to the national charter and responsibility to obey only proper directives. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our duty."

They continued: "The entire nation must unite and condemn the ex-president's requests for our death and ideological conflict. This is a moment for moral clarity."

Additional Governmental Comments

The Opposition leader also denounced Trump's comments and shared on digital platforms: "It's important to understand: the former president is demanding the capital punishment of public representatives."

He added: "This constitutes an clear THREAT. All senators, all representatives, the entire nation – irrespective of political affiliation – should condemn this immediately and without qualification."

The Republican House speaker defended Trump's assertion that the Democrats had engaged in "treason", labeling the video as "highly unsuitable", stating: "This represents very harmful, you have prominent officials of the legislature telling troops to disobey orders, I think that is historic in American history."

The GOP official also reportedly informed media outlets that in what he reviewed of Trump's messages, Trump was "explaining the crime of rebellion" but that "lawyers have to analyze the terminology and establish all that."

Administration Reaction

During a executive branch meeting on Thursday afternoon, when questioned by a journalist, "Would the president want to execute congressional representatives?", the White House press secretary replied: "Absolutely not."

"We should understand about what the former president is reacting to," the spokesperson declared. "We see sitting members of the US Congress who worked together to orchestrate a digital communication to individuals of the American armed forces, to serving soldiers urging them to ignore the executive's lawful orders."

She added: "The purity of our military rests on the hierarchy, and if that chain of command is violated, it can lead to fatalities, it can result in confusion, and that is exactly what these elected officials ... are fundamentally supporting."