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Democratic officials voiced anger after Donald Trump alleged a group of Democratic legislators of being "turncoats" and declared they should be taken into custody and punished "with execution" following their publication of a contentious video.

The Message That Sparked the Dispute

The clip, published on Tuesday, features six Democratic lawmakers who in the past worked in defense or intelligence roles.

"Like us, you all made an vow to protect and defend this founding document," the representatives affirmed in the short video. "Currently, the risks to our democratic foundation aren't just from foreign nations, but from within our own country. Our laws are unambiguous, you can decline improper directives, you can decline unlawful commands, you must reject improper directives. No one has to follow orders that contravene the statutes or our founding principles."

Donald Trump's Angry Reaction

The clip appeared to provoke a heated response from the previous commander-in-chief.

On the following morning, Trump published on his preferred platform: "It's called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Nation should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In another message, he declared: "This is really serious, and Risky to our Country. Their comments cannot be enabled to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a additional message, he stated: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, subject to punishment by DEATH!" He also reposted a comment that read: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Opposition Officials React

Following Trump's statements on that day, House Democratic leader published a combined statement condemning the remarks.

"Political violence has no position in the United States," they stated. "Congress members who appeared in the video all acted our United States with tremendous national pride and distinction. We strongly censure Donald Trump's offensive and dangerous threats of violence against elected officials, and call on House Republicans to strongly do the same."

The party representatives also said that they had been in contact with protective services "to guarantee the protection of these members and their loved ones."

"Donald Trump must without delay remove these radical social media posts and recant his violent language before he gets someone killed," the statement stated.

Lawmakers' Strong Response

The representatives who appeared in the video also published a declaration.

"We are former service members and national security professionals who care for this country and made an oath to safeguard and uphold the founding document of the United States," they said. "That oath continues forever, and we intend to honor it. No threat, pressure, or incitement will deter us from that sacred obligation."

"What's most telling is that the president deems it liable to punishment by execution for us to restate the statutes," they added. "Armed forces members should understand that we have their protection as they carry out their pledge to the founding principles and obligation to adhere to only legal commands. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our duty."

They stated: "Every American must unite and condemn the former president's calls for our execution and political violence. This is a time for ethical certainty."

Additional Political Reactions

The Democratic Senate minority leader also condemned Trump's comments and published on digital platforms: "It's important to understand: the President of the United States is requesting the capital punishment of elected officials."

He stated: "This is an outright THREAT. Every Senator, each house member, all citizens – without partisan consideration – should condemn this immediately and without qualification."

The Republican House speaker justified Trump's claim that the Democrats had engaged in "treason", describing the video as "extremely improper", commenting: "It is very dangerous, you have prominent officials of Congress telling soldiers to defy commands, I think that is historic in American history."

The Conservative representative also according to sources told journalists that in what he examined of Trump's publications, Trump was "defining the crime of sedition" but that "lawyers have to examine the terminology and decide all that."

White House Statement

During a White House press conference on later that day, when asked by a journalist, "Would the president want to kill members of Congress?", the executive branch representative answered: "Absolutely not."

"We should understand about what the ex-commander in chief is reacting to," the official declared. "We see sitting members of the American legislature who worked together to arrange a video message to individuals of the national defense, to serving soldiers advising them to defy the president's legal commands."

She stated: "The integrity of our armed forces depends on the command structure, and if that structure is violated, it can cause fatalities, it can cause disorder, and that's what these congressional representatives ... are essentially supporting."