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Democratic officials voiced anger after former President Donald Trump charged a coalition of Democratic representatives of being "betrayers" and asserted they should be taken into custody and punished "through capital punishment" following their publication of a contentious video.

The Message That Provoked the Controversy

The clip, shared on earlier this week, features six Democratic lawmakers who in the past worked in defense or intelligence positions.

"Similar to us, you all took an oath to safeguard and defend this founding document," the representatives stated in the brief video. "And right now, the threats to our governing document aren't just from abroad, but from domestically. Our laws are explicit, you can refuse improper directives, you can refuse improper directives, you have to decline illegal orders. No one has to follow orders that break the statutes or our constitution."

Trump's Angry Response

The clip seemed to provoke a heated response from the ex-president.

On later in the week, Trump published on Truth Social: "It's called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these betrayers to our Nation should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In another post, he wrote: "This constitutes really bad, and Risky to our Nation. Their statements cannot be permitted to remain. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a third publication, he added: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" He also reposted a declaration that said: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Opposition Leaders Answer

Following Trump's comments on that day, Top Democrats released a joint declaration censuring the statements.

"Political violence has no place in America," they stated. "Representatives who participated in the video all worked our nation with great patriotism and honor. We strongly denounce Donald Trump's appalling and risky calls for execution against members of Congress, and call on GOP representatives to strongly do the same."

The party representatives also stated that they had been in touch with protective services "to make certain the protection of these members and their loved ones."

"Donald Trump must immediately take down these radical online messages and retract his violent rhetoric before he leads to violence," the statement continued.

Officials' Strong Response

The lawmakers who appeared in the video also released a statement.

"We serve as ex-military personnel and security experts who value this nation and took an vow to safeguard and defend the founding document of the United States," they declared. "That oath continues forever, and we intend to maintain it. No warning, pressure, or promotion of aggression will stop us from that important responsibility."

"What's most telling is that the former president deems it punishable by execution for us to repeat the legal requirements," they added. "Armed forces members should recognize that we have their backs as they fulfill their oath to the founding principles and responsibility to adhere to only legal commands. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They added: "All citizens must come together and denounce the ex-president's calls for our execution and partisan aggression. This is a moment for moral clarity."

Further Political Responses

The Democratic Senate minority leader also censured Trump's statements and posted on online networks: "Let's be crystal clear: the ex-commander in chief is demanding the capital punishment of public representatives."

He continued: "This constitutes an clear THREAT. Each congressional member, each house member, the entire nation – irrespective of political affiliation – should censure this immediately and absolutely."

The GOP leader defended Trump's allegation that the Democrats had participated in "treason", labeling the video as "extremely improper", stating: "It is very harmful, you have important representatives of the legislature instructing soldiers to disobey orders, I think that is unprecedented in American history."

The GOP official also according to sources told media outlets that in what he examined of Trump's posts, Trump was "defining the violation of treason" but that "attorneys have to examine the wording and determine all that."

White House Reaction

During a administration briefing on Thursday afternoon, when asked by a reporter, "Does the president want to kill congressional representatives?", the executive branch representative replied: "Absolutely not."

"We should understand about what the former president is addressing," the official declared. "We see active officials of the federal government who worked together to orchestrate a video message to individuals of the national defense, to current military personnel encouraging them to ignore the president's legal commands."

She stated: "The purity of our military rests on the hierarchy, and if that system is violated, it can cause casualties, it can cause chaos, and precisely what these congressional representatives ... are basically supporting."