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Lawmakers from the Democratic party voiced outrage after the ex-president alleged a contingent of Democratic congress members of being "traitors" and stated they should be taken into custody and punished "with execution" following their posting of a contentious video.

The Message That Triggered the Controversy

The clip, released on Tuesday, includes six Democratic lawmakers who previously served in armed forces or security capacities.

"Like us, you all made an vow to defend and uphold this constitution," the representatives declared in the brief video. "And right now, the threats to our democratic foundation aren't just from overseas, but from within our own country. Our laws are unambiguous, you can reject illegal orders, you can reject improper directives, you should refuse unlawful commands. No one has to carry out directives that contravene the law or our national charter."

The Former President's Angry Response

The clip reportedly provoke a angry reaction from the ex-president.

On Thursday morning, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "It's called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these betrayers to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In a separate message, he stated: "This is really serious, and Risky to our Nation. Their comments cannot be enabled to persist. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

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

Opposition Officials Respond

Following Trump's statements on Thursday, Top Democrats released a joint declaration denouncing the comments.

"Violent politics has no role in the United States," they wrote. "Congress members who participated in the video all acted our nation with exceptional national pride and honor. We clearly denounce Donald Trump's disgusting and risky threats of violence against congressional representatives, and urge Republican lawmakers to forcefully do the same."

The party representatives also said that they had been in communication with security officials "to guarantee the protection of these representatives and their loved ones."

"Donald Trump must without delay delete these radical digital publications and withdraw his violent discourse before he leads to violence," the declaration continued.

Lawmakers' Defiant Reaction

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

"We are former service members and defense specialists who love this nation and swore an pledge to protect and defend the national charter of the United States," they said. "That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to maintain it. No threat, coercion, or call for violence will stop us from that sacred duty."

"The significant point is that the ex-president deems it subject to penalty by death for us to repeat the statutes," they stated. "Armed forces members should understand that we have their backs as they carry out their vow to the founding principles and responsibility to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They stated: "The entire nation must join forces and censure the president's requests for our murder and political violence. This is a period for moral clarity."

Further Political Responses

The Democratic Senate minority leader also censured Trump's statements and shared on online networks: "Let's be crystal clear: the ex-commander in chief is calling for the death of elected officials."

He added: "This constitutes an outright THREAT. Each congressional member, each house member, the entire nation – without partisan consideration – should denounce this immediately and unconditionally."

The GOP leader justified Trump's assertion that the Democrats had participated in "rebellion", describing the video as "highly unsuitable", stating: "This represents very risky, you have important representatives of Congress instructing soldiers to ignore directives, I think that represents unprecedented in American history."

The Conservative representative also reportedly stated to journalists that in what he examined of Trump's posts, Trump was "explaining the violation of sedition" but that "attorneys have to examine the terminology and establish all that."

Executive Branch Statement

During a White House press conference on later that day, when questioned by a media member, "Is the president want to execute congressional representatives?", the administration spokesperson replied: "Absolutely not."

"It's important to note about what the president is reacting to," the official said. "You have active officials of the US Congress who coordinated to arrange a digital communication to individuals of the American armed forces, to active duty service members encouraging them to disobey the executive's lawful orders."

She stated: "The integrity of our defense system depends on the command structure, and if that chain of command is broken, it can cause people getting killed, it can result in chaos, and precisely what these congressional representatives ... are fundamentally supporting."