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Democratic officials demonstrated anger after the ex-president accused a contingent of Democratic legislators of being "turncoats" and asserted they should be detained and penalized "through capital punishment" following their posting of a disputed video.

The Recording That Triggered the Dispute

The clip, released on Tuesday, includes six Democratic congress members who in the past served in defense or defense roles.

"Like us, you all took an vow to defend and uphold this founding document," the officials stated in the short video. "And right now, the threats to our democratic foundation are not only from overseas, but from right here at home. Our laws are explicit, you can decline improper directives, you can reject unlawful commands, you have to decline unlawful commands. No one has to execute directives that break the law or our founding principles."

Trump's Incensed Response

The video message appeared to provoke a angry reaction from the former president.

On later in the week, Trump wrote on his social media platform: "This constitutes SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these turncoats to our Nation should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

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

In a third publication, he stated: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, liable by DEATH!" He also shared a statement that stated: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Democratic Leaders React

Following Trump's comments on that day, Democratic leadership published a unified statement condemning the statements.

"Partisan aggression has no position in America," they stated. "Elected officials who were featured in the video all served our United States with tremendous loyalty and honor. We strongly censure Donald Trump's disgusting and harmful threats of violence against congressional representatives, and appeal to GOP representatives to forcefully do the same."

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

"Donald Trump must without delay remove these unhinged digital publications and recant his violent rhetoric before he leads to violence," the announcement added.

Representatives' Firm Answer

The officials who were featured in the video also issued a response.

"We serve as former service members and national security professionals who love this country and swore an vow to safeguard and defend the founding document of the United States," they said. "Our pledge is permanent, and we intend to honor it. No warning, intimidation, or incitement will deter us from that sacred obligation."

"What's most telling is that the president considers it punishable by capital punishment for us to repeat the legal requirements," they added. "Armed forces members should know that we have their backs as they carry out their vow to the constitution and duty to obey only legal commands. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our duty."

They added: "The entire nation must unite and denounce the ex-president's requests for our execution and political violence. This is a moment for principled stance."

Further Political Responses

The Senate Democratic leader also denounced Trump's statements and published on social media: "It's important to understand: the ex-commander in chief is calling for the execution of elected officials."

He added: "This is an outright THREAT. Each congressional member, each house member, every American – without partisan consideration – should condemn this without delay and absolutely."

The GOP leader defended Trump's allegation that the Democrats had engaged in "rebellion", characterizing the video as "wildly inappropriate", commenting: "This represents very harmful, you have leading members of the government instructing troops to disobey orders, I think that represents historic in the nation's past."

The GOP official also according to sources stated to media outlets that in what he examined of Trump's posts, Trump was "describing the offense of rebellion" but that "attorneys have to examine the language and determine all that."

White House Response

During a White House press conference on later that day, when questioned by a journalist, "Would the president want to put to death congressional representatives?", the executive branch representative responded: "Certainly not."

"We should understand about what the former president is addressing," the representative said. "You have sitting members of the US Congress who worked together to organize a video message to members of the national defense, to current military personnel encouraging them to ignore the president's lawful orders."

She said: "The integrity of our defense system rests on the chain of command, and if that chain of command is compromised, it can cause casualties, it can result in disorder, and that's what these congressional representatives ... are basically promoting."