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Democratic officials expressed anger after the ex-president accused a group of Democratic legislators of being "traitors" and stated they should be taken into custody and penalized "by death" following their posting of a contentious video.

The Content That Sparked the Dispute

The recorded message, shared on Tuesday, features six Democratic lawmakers who formerly acted in armed forces or defense capacities.

"As we did, you all made an vow to safeguard and support this constitution," the officials affirmed in the 90-second video. "At present, the threats to our governing document don't only come from overseas, but from within our own country. Our regulations are explicit, you can reject improper directives, you can refuse unlawful commands, you have to reject unlawful commands. No one has to follow orders that break the statutes or our national charter."

The Former President's Furious Reply

The video message reportedly provoke a furious reply from the ex-president.

On Thursday morning, Trump wrote on his preferred platform: "This constitutes SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these turncoats to our United States should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In a separate publication, he wrote: "This is really concerning, and Harmful to our Country. Their statements cannot be permitted to persist. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a third message, he added: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" He also redistributed a comment that read: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Opposition Leaders React

Following Trump's remarks on that day, Democratic leadership issued a unified declaration censuring the remarks.

"Partisan aggression has no place in this nation," they declared. "Congress members who participated in the video all served our nation with exceptional patriotism and honor. We strongly condemn Donald Trump's appalling and risky threats of violence against members of Congress, and call on Republican lawmakers to forcefully do the same."

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

"Donald Trump must immediately take down these radical social media posts and recant his dangerous rhetoric before he causes harm," the declaration continued.

Lawmakers' Defiant Response

The officials who participated in the video also issued a declaration.

"We identify as ex-military personnel and security experts who love this country and took an oath to protect and support the constitution of the United States," they said. "Our pledge is permanent, and we aim to honor it. No threat, pressure, or incitement will deter us from that sacred responsibility."

"The most revealing aspect is that the president considers it liable to punishment by capital punishment for us to reiterate the legal requirements," they stated. "Armed forces members should recognize that we have their support as they execute their oath to the constitution and responsibility to adhere to only lawful orders. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our obligation."

They continued: "The entire nation must join forces and denounce the ex-president's requests for our death and partisan aggression. This is a moment for ethical certainty."

Additional Partisan Comments

The Democratic Senate minority leader also denounced Trump's remarks and shared on online networks: "We must be absolutely clear: the former president is demanding the death of public representatives."

He added: "This represents an direct THREAT. All senators, all representatives, the entire nation – regardless of party – should condemn this immediately and unconditionally."

The GOP leader supported Trump's assertion that the Democrats had participated in "rebellion", describing the video as "wildly inappropriate", commenting: "It is very dangerous, you have prominent officials of the legislature advising military personnel to defy commands, 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 reviewed of Trump's messages, Trump was "explaining the violation of treason" but that "legal experts have to examine the language and determine all that."

White House Reaction

During a executive branch meeting on Thursday afternoon, when asked by a reporter, "Is the president want to kill congressional representatives?", the administration spokesperson answered: "Certainly not."

"We should understand about what the president is reacting to," the official declared. "There are sitting members of the US Congress who conspired to arrange a video message to members of the US military, to active duty service members encouraging them to defy the president's proper directives."

She said: "The purity of our defense system relies on the command structure, and if that structure is violated, it can result in people getting killed, it can lead to disorder, and that is exactly what these elected officials ... are basically encouraging."