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Lawmakers from the Democratic party voiced fury after former President Donald Trump accused a contingent of Democratic representatives of being "traitors" and stated they should be detained and penalized "with execution" following their release of a controversial video.

The Content That Sparked the Controversy

The video footage, shared on Tuesday, features six Democratic elected officials who previously acted in defense or security positions.

"As we did, you all made an oath to safeguard and support this national charter," the lawmakers stated in the 90-second video. "At present, the risks to our democratic foundation aren't just from foreign nations, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear, you can reject illegal orders, you can refuse improper directives, you have to reject illegal orders. No one has to follow orders that break the legal system or our national charter."

The Former President's Furious Reply

The recorded statement seemed to provoke a furious reply 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 betrayers to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In another post, he wrote: "This represents really serious, and Dangerous to our United States. Their statements cannot be enabled to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a subsequent message, he continued: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" He also reposted a declaration that stated: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Opposition Officials Respond

Following Trump's comments on that day, Democratic leadership released a combined announcement censuring the remarks.

"Violent politics has no position in America," they wrote. "Representatives who participated in the video all served our country with exceptional patriotism and distinction. We strongly censure Donald Trump's offensive and harmful threats of violence against congressional representatives, and appeal to Republican lawmakers to strongly do the same."

The party representatives also stated that they had been in contact with security officials "to guarantee the security of these representatives and their families."

"Donald Trump must immediately delete these unhinged online messages and recant his dangerous language before he gets someone killed," the announcement added.

Officials' Defiant Reaction

The lawmakers who were featured in the video also issued a declaration.

"We are ex-military personnel and national security professionals who love this country and swore an pledge to safeguard and defend the constitution of the United States," they said. "This commitment is permanent, and we plan to keep it. No warning, coercion, or promotion of aggression will prevent us from that important responsibility."

"The significant point is that the ex-president views it liable to punishment by death for us to repeat the statutes," they continued. "Our service members should know that we have their protection as they fulfill their vow to the national charter and responsibility to obey only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our obligation."

They continued: "The entire nation must come together and condemn the former president's requests for our execution and political violence. This is a period for principled stance."

More Partisan Reactions

The Democratic Senate minority leader also condemned Trump's comments and posted on online networks: "We must be absolutely clear: the President of the United States is demanding the death of government members."

He added: "This represents an direct THREAT. Every Senator, every Representative, the entire nation – without partisan consideration – should censure this immediately and unconditionally."

The Republican House speaker justified Trump's allegation that the Democrats had engaged in "rebellion", characterizing the video as "extremely improper", commenting: "This constitutes very harmful, you have important representatives of Congress instructing military personnel to defy commands, I think that's unprecedented in American history."

The Republican leader also allegedly stated to the press that in what he read of Trump's publications, Trump was "describing the crime of treason" but that "legal experts have to analyze the language and establish all that."

Administration Response

During a White House press conference on Thursday afternoon, when inquired by a journalist, "Does the president want to execute members of Congress?", the administration spokesperson responded: "No."

"We should understand about what the former president is responding to," the spokesperson said. "We see sitting members of the American legislature who worked together to orchestrate a video message to members of the US military, to current military personnel advising them to defy the executive's legal commands."

She added: "The sanctity of our armed forces relies on the hierarchy, and if that system is violated, it can cause people getting killed, it can result in confusion, and precisely what these members of Congress ... are essentially supporting."