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Democratic officials voiced anger after the ex-president charged a group of Democratic representatives of being "traitors" and stated they should be taken into custody and penalized "through capital punishment" following their posting of a disputed video.

The Recording That Triggered the Debate

The video footage, published on earlier this week, includes six Democratic congress members who formerly served in military or defense capacities.

"Similar to us, you all swore an pledge to defend and defend this constitution," the representatives affirmed in the 90-second video. "And right now, the threats to our democratic foundation aren't just from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are explicit, you can reject improper directives, you can decline unlawful commands, you have to refuse improper directives. No one has to follow commands that break the law or our constitution."

Trump's Furious Response

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

On Thursday morning, 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 a separate message, he declared: "This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their comments cannot be permitted to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

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

Party Leaders React

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

"Violent politics has no place in this nation," they stated. "Representatives who appeared in the video all served our nation with exceptional national pride and honor. We strongly censure Donald Trump's disgusting and harmful death threats against congressional representatives, and call on Republican lawmakers to vigorously do the same."

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

"Donald Trump must immediately delete these extreme digital publications and retract his aggressive discourse before he leads to violence," the announcement continued.

Lawmakers' Firm Response

The officials who appeared in the video also issued a response.

"We serve as ex-military personnel and national security professionals who love this country and took an oath to defend and uphold the national charter of the United States," they stated. "This commitment is permanent, and we plan to maintain it. No threat, pressure, or promotion of aggression will prevent us from that important obligation."

"The most revealing aspect is that the ex-president deems it punishable by execution for us to repeat the legal requirements," they continued. "Military personnel should know that we have their backs as they execute their oath to the national charter and duty to obey only legal commands. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our duty."

They added: "All citizens must come together and denounce the ex-president's requests for our death and ideological conflict. This is a time for principled stance."

Further Governmental Reactions

The Senate Democratic leader also denounced Trump's remarks and shared on digital platforms: "It's important to understand: the former president is requesting the death of elected officials."

He stated: "This constitutes an direct THREAT. Each congressional member, each house member, every American – without partisan consideration – should censure this right away and unconditionally."

The GOP leader justified Trump's allegation that the Democrats had participated in "rebellion", characterizing the video as "extremely improper", adding: "This constitutes very risky, you have prominent officials of the legislature advising troops to disobey orders, I think that represents historic in US history."

The Conservative representative also allegedly stated to journalists that in what he reviewed of Trump's publications, Trump was "defining the violation of rebellion" but that "lawyers have to analyze the language and determine all that."

Executive Branch Reaction

During a executive branch meeting on Thursday afternoon, when questioned by a journalist, "Is the president want to kill elected officials?", the executive branch representative answered: "No."

"Let's be clear about what the ex-commander in chief is reacting to," the official said. "We see sitting members of the US Congress who worked together to organize a recorded statement to personnel of the US military, to current military personnel urging them to disobey the president's legal commands."

She said: "The sanctity of our armed forces rests on the chain of command, and if that chain of command is broken, it can cause people getting killed, it can result in disorder, and precisely what these elected officials ... are basically encouraging."