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Lawmakers from the Democratic party expressed fury after Donald Trump charged a coalition of Democratic representatives of being "betrayers" and asserted they should be arrested and penalized "with execution" following their posting of a contentious video.

The Message That Triggered the Dispute

The clip, released on earlier this week, features six Democratic lawmakers who in the past worked in military or defense capacities.

"Like us, you all took an pledge to safeguard and support this founding document," the representatives stated in the 90-second video. "Currently, the dangers to our governing document don't only come from foreign nations, but from within our own country. Our statutes are explicit, you can decline illegal orders, you can reject illegal orders, you should reject illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that break the statutes or our founding principles."

The Former President's Furious Reaction

The clip reportedly trigger a furious reaction from the ex-president.

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

In a separate post, he declared: "This constitutes really serious, and Risky to our United States. Their comments cannot be allowed to remain. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a subsequent post, he continued: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, subject to punishment by DEATH!" He also reposted a statement that read: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Party Officials Respond

Following Trump's comments on that day, Democratic leadership issued a combined statement condemning the remarks.

"Political violence has no position in America," they stated. "Elected officials who participated in the video all served our nation with great patriotism and excellence. We unequivocally denounce Donald Trump's offensive and harmful calls for execution against elected officials, and appeal to House Republicans to strongly do the same."

The party representatives also stated that they had been in contact with protective services "to ensure the safety of these representatives and their loved ones."

"Donald Trump must without delay delete these radical digital publications and recant his dangerous language before he gets someone killed," the statement continued.

Representatives' Firm Reaction

The representatives who participated in the video also released a response.

"We identify as veterans and defense specialists who value this country and made an pledge to safeguard and defend the national charter of the United States," they said. "Our pledge lasts a lifetime, and we plan to maintain it. No intimidation, intimidation, or incitement will prevent us from that important duty."

"What's most telling is that the president considers it punishable by death for us to repeat the legal requirements," they stated. "Military personnel should understand that we have their protection as they fulfill their vow to the national charter and obligation to adhere to only legal commands. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our obligation."

They added: "The entire nation must unite and denounce the president's requests for our execution and ideological conflict. This is a time for ethical certainty."

Additional Governmental Reactions

The Opposition leader also denounced Trump's comments and published on social media: "We must be absolutely clear: the former president is demanding the execution of elected officials."

He stated: "This is an clear THREAT. Every Senator, all representatives, the entire nation – without partisan consideration – should denounce this without delay and without qualification."

The Republican House speaker justified Trump's claim that the Democrats had been involved in "treason", describing the video as "extremely improper", commenting: "It is very harmful, you have prominent officials of Congress instructing soldiers to defy commands, I think that is unprecedented in the nation's past."

The GOP official also reportedly told media outlets that in what he read of Trump's messages, Trump was "describing the crime of treason" but that "attorneys have to analyze the wording and establish all that."

Executive Branch Statement

During a administration briefing on Thursday afternoon, when inquired by a media member, "Would the president want to put to death congressional representatives?", the administration spokesperson responded: "Certainly not."

"It's important to note about what the president is reacting to," the spokesperson declared. "There are sitting members of the American legislature who conspired to arrange a recorded statement to members of the US military, to active duty service members urging them to ignore the commander in chief's proper directives."

She said: "The sanctity of our military rests on the hierarchy, and if that system is broken, it can lead to casualties, it can result in chaos, and that is exactly what these elected officials ... are fundamentally supporting."