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Democratic officials voiced outrage after former President Donald Trump charged a contingent of Democratic representatives of being "turncoats" and declared they should be taken into custody and punished "by death" following their publication of a controversial video.

The Content That Provoked the Controversy

The video footage, published on Tuesday, features six Democratic elected officials who previously served in military or intelligence capacities.

"Similar to us, you all took an vow to defend and support this founding document," the officials stated in the brief video. "Currently, the risks to our democratic foundation are not only from overseas, but from within our own country. Our laws are unambiguous, you can reject improper directives, you can refuse improper directives, you have to decline improper directives. No one has to carry out orders that break the law or our national charter."

The Former President's Angry Reaction

The recorded statement appeared to prompt a furious reaction from the ex-president.

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

In a separate message, he wrote: "This represents really bad, and Risky to our United States. Their words cannot be allowed to persist. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a additional publication, he added: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, subject to punishment by DEATH!" He also shared a statement that said: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Opposition Officials Respond

Following Trump's statements on that day, Top Democrats published a combined declaration censuring the remarks.

"Political violence has no position in the United States," they stated. "Congress members who appeared in the video all served our country with exceptional national pride and distinction. We unequivocally denounce Donald Trump's offensive and harmful death threats against elected officials, and call on GOP representatives to forcefully do the same."

The Democratic leaders also mentioned that they had been in contact with law enforcement "to guarantee the protection of these representatives and their loved ones."

"Donald Trump must without delay remove these extreme digital publications and recant his aggressive discourse before he leads to violence," the statement stated.

Lawmakers' Strong Reaction

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

"We serve as former service members and defense specialists who value this country and made an oath to protect and uphold the constitution of the United States," they said. "This commitment is permanent, and we plan to keep it. No warning, intimidation, or incitement will prevent us from that fundamental responsibility."

"The significant point is that the former president views it subject to penalty by capital punishment for us to repeat the law," they continued. "Military personnel should understand that we have their backs as they fulfill their vow to the constitution and duty to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They added: "All citizens must join forces and condemn the president's requests for our execution and partisan aggression. This is a period for moral clarity."

More Political Comments

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

He continued: "This constitutes an direct THREAT. Every Senator, all representatives, every American – regardless of party – should condemn this right away and unconditionally."

The Conservative official supported Trump's assertion that the Democrats had been involved in "treason", describing the video as "wildly inappropriate", commenting: "It is very risky, you have prominent officials of the government telling soldiers to disobey orders, I think that's unprecedented in US history."

The GOP official also reportedly informed journalists that in what he examined of Trump's posts, Trump was "defining the offense of rebellion" but that "lawyers have to analyze the language and decide all that."

Executive Branch Response

During a administration briefing on Thursday afternoon, when inquired by a media member, "Does the president want to execute congressional representatives?", the White House press secretary responded: "No."

"Let's be clear about what the ex-commander in chief is addressing," the spokesperson said. "You have sitting members of the US Congress who worked together to orchestrate a recorded statement to individuals of the US military, to active duty service members advising them to disobey the president's lawful orders."

She added: "The sanctity of our military depends on the command structure, and if that structure is compromised, it can cause people getting killed, it can lead to confusion, and that is exactly what these congressional representatives ... are fundamentally promoting."