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Democratic officials expressed outrage after the ex-president charged a group of Democratic representatives of being "betrayers" and stated they should be taken into custody and penalized "by death" following their publication of a disputed video.

The Content That Triggered the Controversy

The recorded message, shared on Tuesday, features six Democratic congress members who previously worked in armed forces or defense positions.

"Similar to us, you all took an vow to protect and support this national charter," the officials affirmed in the brief video. "Currently, the risks to our governing document aren't just from abroad, but from right here at home. Our regulations are unambiguous, you can decline improper directives, you can refuse improper directives, you must decline improper directives. No one has to follow commands that violate the legal system or our national charter."

Donald Trump's Furious Response

The video message seemed to provoke a heated reaction from the previous commander-in-chief.

On Thursday morning, Trump posted on his social media platform: "This constitutes SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these betrayers to our United States should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In another publication, he stated: "This constitutes really bad, and Harmful to our Nation. Their comments cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

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

Opposition Leaders React

Following Trump's comments on that day, House Democratic leader published a unified declaration condemning the remarks.

"Violent politics has no place in America," they wrote. "Elected officials who participated in the video all acted our United States with tremendous patriotism and distinction. We unequivocally denounce Donald Trump's appalling and dangerous calls for execution against elected officials, and urge GOP representatives to vigorously do the same."

The opposition officials also said that they had been in contact with law enforcement "to make certain the protection of these officials and their loved ones."

"Donald Trump must immediately delete these extreme social media posts and recant his dangerous language before he gets someone killed," the statement continued.

Lawmakers' Defiant Reaction

The officials who were featured in the video also published a declaration.

"We are ex-military personnel and defense specialists who care for this United States and took an vow to defend and defend the founding document of the United States," they declared. "That oath is permanent, and we aim to maintain it. No warning, coercion, or incitement will stop us from that sacred duty."

"What's most telling is that the ex-president deems it liable to punishment by capital punishment for us to reiterate the legal requirements," they continued. "Military personnel should recognize that we have their backs as they carry out their oath to the founding principles and duty to follow only proper directives. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our duty."

They stated: "The entire nation must come together and denounce the former president's calls for our execution and ideological conflict. This is a time for moral clarity."

Further Political Comments

The Democratic Senate minority leader also condemned Trump's remarks and shared on online networks: "It's important to understand: the ex-commander in chief is requesting the capital punishment of elected officials."

He stated: "This constitutes an clear THREAT. Each congressional member, each house member, all citizens – irrespective of political affiliation – should censure this right away and absolutely."

The Conservative official supported Trump's assertion that the Democrats had participated in "sedition", describing the video as "extremely improper", adding: "This constitutes very risky, you have prominent officials of the government telling soldiers to disobey orders, I think that represents historic in US history."

The GOP official also allegedly stated to the press that in what he examined of Trump's messages, Trump was "describing the crime of rebellion" but that "lawyers have to parse the terminology and determine all that."

Administration Response

During a White House press conference on later that day, when asked by a journalist, "Would the president want to put to death elected officials?", the administration spokesperson responded: "No."

"Let's be clear about what the former president is addressing," the spokesperson said. "You have active officials of the federal government who worked together to organize a recorded statement to individuals of the American armed forces, to serving soldiers encouraging them to disobey the commander in chief's legal commands."

She stated: "The integrity of our defense system rests on the command structure, and if that structure is broken, it can lead to fatalities, it can result in chaos, and precisely what these members of Congress ... are essentially supporting."