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Lawmakers from the Democratic party demonstrated fury after former President Donald Trump accused a coalition of Democratic representatives of being "traitors" and asserted they should be detained and penalized "through capital punishment" following their posting of a controversial video.

The Message That Sparked the Dispute

The video footage, released on Tuesday, features six Democratic lawmakers who previously worked in armed forces or intelligence capacities.

"As we did, you all swore an oath to safeguard and support this founding document," the lawmakers declared in the short video. "At present, the risks to our democratic foundation are not only from overseas, but from right here at home. Our statutes are explicit, you can decline unlawful commands, you can decline unlawful commands, you should decline improper directives. No one has to carry out orders that break the statutes or our national charter."

The Former President's Incensed Reply

The video message seemed to prompt a heated reply from the ex-president.

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

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

In a subsequent post, he added: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, liable by DEATH!" He also shared a statement that said: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Opposition Officials React

Following Trump's statements on that day, House Democratic leader published a joint announcement denouncing the comments.

"Violent politics has no place in the United States," they declared. "Congress members who participated in the video all worked our nation with exceptional loyalty and excellence. We strongly condemn Donald Trump's offensive and dangerous death threats against congressional representatives, and call on House Republicans to strongly do the same."

The opposition officials also mentioned that they had been in communication with security officials "to ensure the safety of these members and their relatives."

"Donald Trump must right away delete these radical social media posts and withdraw his aggressive language before he leads to violence," the statement added.

Representatives' Firm Reaction

The representatives who appeared in the video also published a response.

"We serve as former service members and national security professionals who value this nation and swore an pledge to defend and defend the founding document of the United States," they declared. "Our pledge lasts a lifetime, and we plan to maintain it. No intimidation, pressure, or call for violence will stop us from that fundamental responsibility."

"The significant point is that the ex-president considers it subject to penalty by death for us to reiterate the legal requirements," they stated. "Armed forces members should understand that we have their support as they fulfill their vow to the national charter and obligation to obey only legal commands. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They continued: "All citizens must join forces and censure the ex-president's demands for our murder and partisan aggression. This is a time for principled stance."

More Partisan Reactions

The Opposition leader also condemned Trump's remarks and shared on online networks: "Let's be crystal clear: the ex-commander in chief is requesting the execution of government members."

He added: "This is an direct THREAT. All senators, each house member, all citizens – without partisan consideration – should denounce this right away and absolutely."

The Republican House speaker supported Trump's allegation that the Democrats had participated in "treason", labeling the video as "highly unsuitable", commenting: "This constitutes very harmful, you have important representatives of the legislature advising troops to disobey orders, I think that represents without precedent in US history."

The GOP official also reportedly informed media outlets that in what he reviewed of Trump's messages, Trump was "defining the offense of treason" but that "attorneys have to parse the wording and determine all that."

White House Reaction

During a executive branch meeting on that day, when questioned by a reporter, "Would the president want to kill elected officials?", the executive branch representative answered: "Absolutely not."

"It's important to note about what the former president is addressing," the official declared. "There are current representatives of the US Congress who coordinated to arrange a recorded statement to members of the national defense, to active duty service members advising them to ignore the president's proper directives."

She added: "The sanctity of our armed forces relies on the command structure, and if that system is broken, it can result in people getting killed, it can result in chaos, and that's what these congressional representatives ... are fundamentally supporting."