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Lawmakers from the Democratic party demonstrated outrage after former President Donald Trump charged a group of Democratic legislators of being "betrayers" and stated they should be taken into custody and penalized "by death" following their release of a controversial video.

The Message That Triggered the Controversy

The video footage, released on Tuesday, showcases six Democratic lawmakers who previously served in defense or intelligence positions.

"Similar to us, you all made an oath to defend and defend this founding document," the representatives affirmed in the short video. "At present, the risks to our constitution are not only from abroad, but from domestically. Our laws are unambiguous, you can reject unlawful commands, you can decline illegal orders, you must decline illegal orders. No one has to follow commands that contravene the legal system or our constitution."

Trump's Angry Response

The recorded statement appeared to provoke a heated reply from the ex-president.

On the following morning, Trump posted on his preferred platform: "This represents SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these betrayers to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In an additional message, he wrote: "This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Nation. Their words cannot be permitted to persist. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

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

Opposition Representatives Answer

Following Trump's comments on Thursday, Top Democrats published a joint announcement censuring the comments.

"Violent politics has no place in this nation," they stated. "Representatives who participated in the video all served our United States with tremendous national pride and excellence. We unequivocally condemn Donald Trump's disgusting and risky death threats against elected officials, and call on Republican lawmakers to strongly do the same."

The opposition officials also said that they had been in touch with security officials "to ensure the protection of these officials and their loved ones."

"Donald Trump must right away delete these extreme social media posts and withdraw his dangerous rhetoric before he gets someone killed," the announcement continued.

Officials' Strong Reaction

The officials who participated in the video also published a statement.

"We are veterans and security experts who value this country and made an vow to protect and defend the constitution of the United States," they declared. "This commitment lasts a lifetime, and we plan to keep it. No intimidation, pressure, or incitement will prevent us from that fundamental responsibility."

"What's most telling is that the president views it subject to penalty by death for us to reiterate the law," they stated. "Armed forces members should know that we have their protection as they fulfill their oath to the national charter and obligation to obey only lawful orders. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our obligation."

They added: "Every American must come together and denounce the ex-president's demands for our execution and ideological conflict. This is a period for principled stance."

More Partisan Responses

The Democratic Senate minority leader also condemned Trump's comments and shared on social media: "We must be absolutely clear: the President of the United States is demanding the execution of government members."

He added: "This is an outright THREAT. Each congressional member, all representatives, the entire nation – without partisan consideration – should denounce this immediately and absolutely."

The Republican House speaker defended Trump's claim that the Democrats had been involved in "treason", characterizing the video as "wildly inappropriate", commenting: "It is very harmful, you have prominent officials of Congress advising military personnel to defy commands, I think that's without precedent in US history."

The Conservative representative also according to sources told journalists that in what he read of Trump's messages, Trump was "explaining the violation of sedition" but that "lawyers have to analyze the terminology and establish all that."

Executive Branch Response

During a executive branch meeting on later that day, when questioned by a media member, "Is the president want to kill elected officials?", the White House press secretary replied: "Certainly not."

"We should understand about what the ex-commander in chief is reacting to," the official declared. "There are current representatives of the US Congress who conspired to organize a digital communication to individuals of the US military, to current military personnel advising them to defy the commander in chief's lawful orders."

She added: "The integrity of our defense system relies on the chain of command, and if that system is broken, it can result in fatalities, it can lead to confusion, and that's what these congressional representatives ... are basically supporting."