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Lawmakers from the Democratic party expressed outrage after former President Donald Trump charged a group of Democratic representatives of being "betrayers" and declared they should be taken into custody and penalized "by death" following their publication of a contentious video.

The Message That Triggered the Debate

The recorded message, published on Tuesday, features six Democratic elected officials who previously acted in military or defense roles.

"Similar to us, you all took an oath to safeguard and support this national charter," the lawmakers affirmed in the brief video. "And right now, the risks to our governing document don't only come from abroad, but from right here at home. Our statutes are clear, you can refuse illegal orders, you can reject illegal orders, you have to refuse unlawful commands. No one has to carry out orders that violate the statutes or our founding principles."

The Former President's Furious Reaction

The clip reportedly trigger a heated response from the former president.

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

In a separate publication, he wrote: "This represents really serious, and Risky to our Nation. Their words cannot be enabled to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a subsequent publication, he stated: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, subject to punishment by DEATH!" He also redistributed a statement that stated: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Opposition Leaders Answer

Following Trump's statements on Thursday, House Democratic leader published a unified declaration censuring the remarks.

"Violent politics has no role in the United States," they stated. "Representatives who appeared in the video all served our United States with great national pride and excellence. We clearly condemn Donald Trump's offensive and harmful calls for execution against elected officials, and appeal to House Republicans to strongly do the same."

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

"Donald Trump must right away delete these radical digital publications and withdraw his aggressive discourse before he leads to violence," the announcement stated.

Lawmakers' Defiant Reaction

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

"We serve as veterans and national security professionals who love this country and made an pledge to defend and uphold the founding document of the United States," they declared. "Our pledge continues forever, and we intend to maintain it. No threat, pressure, or call for violence will stop us from that important duty."

"The most revealing aspect is that the president views it punishable by capital punishment for us to repeat the legal requirements," they added. "Armed forces members should know that we have their support as they execute their pledge to the national charter and duty to adhere to only legal commands. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our duty."

They continued: "All citizens must come together and condemn the president's calls for our execution and ideological conflict. This is a time for principled stance."

More Political Comments

The Democratic Senate minority leader also condemned Trump's comments and posted on social media: "It's important to understand: the former president is demanding the capital punishment of elected officials."

He stated: "This is an outright THREAT. Every Senator, each house member, all citizens – irrespective of political affiliation – should condemn this without delay and unconditionally."

The GOP leader justified Trump's assertion that the Democrats had been involved in "rebellion", labeling the video as "highly unsuitable", stating: "This represents very dangerous, you have important representatives of the legislature advising military personnel to ignore directives, I think that's unprecedented in American history."

The Republican leader also according to sources told journalists that in what he read of Trump's posts, Trump was "defining the offense of sedition" but that "legal experts have to parse the terminology and establish all that."

White House Response

During a White House press conference on Thursday afternoon, when inquired by a journalist, "Does the president want to kill members of Congress?", the White House press secretary answered: "Certainly not."

"Let's be clear about what the ex-commander in chief is responding to," the representative said. "You have sitting members of the US Congress who worked together to arrange a video message to individuals of the American armed forces, to current military personnel urging them to disobey the commander in chief's legal commands."

She stated: "The sanctity of our defense system depends on the command structure, and if that chain of command is broken, it can lead to casualties, it can result in disorder, and that is exactly what these members of Congress ... are essentially promoting."