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Lawmakers from the Democratic party expressed outrage after Donald Trump charged a group of Democratic congress members of being "turncoats" and declared they should be detained and sentenced "by death" following their posting of a controversial video.

The Message That Triggered the Controversy

The recorded message, shared on Tuesday, showcases six Democratic elected officials who in the past served in defense or defense positions.

"As we did, you all took an pledge to defend and uphold this founding document," the representatives stated in the 90-second video. "At present, the risks to our constitution are not only from foreign nations, but from domestically. Our statutes are clear, you can refuse illegal orders, you can refuse improper directives, you have to decline improper directives. No one has to follow directives that violate the legal system or our constitution."

Trump's Furious Reply

The clip appeared to trigger a furious reply from the former president.

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

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

In a third message, he stated: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, liable by DEATH!" He also redistributed a declaration that stated: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Democratic Leaders Respond

Following Trump's statements on that day, House Democratic leader released a unified statement denouncing the remarks.

"Partisan aggression has no position in the United States," they wrote. "Representatives who participated in the video all served our United States with tremendous national pride and excellence. We unequivocally censure Donald Trump's offensive and risky calls for execution against elected officials, and appeal to Republican lawmakers to forcefully do the same."

The party representatives also mentioned that they had been in contact with security officials "to make certain the security of these members and their loved ones."

"Donald Trump must right away delete these extreme online messages and retract his aggressive language before he causes harm," the announcement added.

Representatives' Defiant Response

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

"We identify as ex-military personnel and national security professionals who love this United States and took an pledge to defend and uphold the founding document of the United States," they declared. "That oath is permanent, and we plan to maintain it. No intimidation, coercion, or call for violence will prevent us from that sacred duty."

"The significant point is that the president deems it punishable by execution for us to restate the statutes," they added. "Military personnel should recognize that we have their backs as they fulfill their vow to the founding principles and responsibility to adhere to only proper directives. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They continued: "Every American must come together and censure the former president's requests for our murder and partisan aggression. This is a period for moral clarity."

More Partisan Responses

The Democratic Senate minority leader also censured Trump's remarks and shared on social media: "We must be absolutely clear: the former president is calling for the capital punishment of elected officials."

He continued: "This constitutes an clear THREAT. Each congressional member, all representatives, the entire nation – without partisan consideration – should censure this immediately and unconditionally."

The Republican House speaker defended Trump's allegation that the Democrats had participated in "sedition", characterizing the video as "extremely improper", stating: "It is very risky, you have leading members of the legislature telling military personnel to disobey orders, I think that is without precedent in US history."

The Conservative representative also reportedly told the press that in what he read of Trump's messages, Trump was "defining the crime of rebellion" but that "lawyers have to examine the wording and establish all that."

White House Reaction

During a administration briefing on that day, when asked by a journalist, "Is the president want to kill congressional representatives?", the administration spokesperson answered: "Certainly not."

"We should understand about what the ex-commander in chief is reacting to," the representative stated. "You have current representatives of the US Congress who coordinated to arrange a digital communication to personnel of the American armed forces, to serving soldiers encouraging them to disobey the executive's legal commands."

She said: "The integrity of our armed forces rests on the command structure, and if that system is broken, it can cause casualties, it can result in confusion, and that's what these congressional representatives ... are basically promoting."