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Lawmakers from the Democratic party voiced fury after the ex-president charged a group of Democratic legislators of being "traitors" and declared they should be taken into custody and punished "with execution" following their posting of a controversial video.

The Recording That Provoked the Debate

The video footage, shared on Tuesday, features six Democratic lawmakers who previously acted in military or intelligence capacities.

"Like us, you all took an vow to safeguard and uphold this constitution," the lawmakers declared in the 90-second video. "And right now, the dangers to our democratic foundation are not only from overseas, but from right here at home. Our laws are explicit, you can decline unlawful commands, you can reject illegal orders, you must refuse unlawful commands. No one has to execute orders that violate the statutes or our constitution."

Donald Trump's Furious Response

The video message reportedly trigger a angry reaction from the former president.

On the following morning, Trump wrote on his social media platform: "It's called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these betrayers to our United States should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In an additional post, he wrote: "This is really bad, and Harmful to our Nation. Their comments cannot be allowed to persist. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a subsequent publication, he added: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, liable by DEATH!" He also redistributed a declaration that read: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Opposition Leaders React

Following Trump's statements on that day, Top Democrats issued a combined statement censuring the comments.

"Violent politics has no role in America," they stated. "Congress members who were featured in the video all acted our United States with tremendous national pride and excellence. We unequivocally censure Donald Trump's offensive and harmful calls for execution against congressional representatives, and urge Republican lawmakers to vigorously do the same."

The Democratic leaders also stated that they had been in contact with protective services "to ensure the safety of these representatives and their families."

"Donald Trump must immediately take down these radical digital publications and retract his aggressive discourse before he gets someone killed," the announcement stated.

Lawmakers' Strong Reaction

The lawmakers who were featured in the video also released a declaration.

"We are ex-military personnel and defense specialists who care for this country and made an oath to defend and defend the founding document of the United States," they said. "That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to honor it. No intimidation, coercion, or promotion of aggression will stop us from that fundamental duty."

"What's most telling is that the president deems it liable to punishment by execution for us to restate the statutes," they added. "Armed forces members should recognize that we have their support as they carry out their vow to the founding principles and duty to adhere to only proper directives. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our obligation."

They stated: "All citizens must join forces and censure the former president's requests for our execution and ideological conflict. This is a moment for principled stance."

Further Partisan Comments

The Democratic Senate minority leader also condemned Trump's comments and shared on digital platforms: "It's important to understand: the ex-commander in chief is demanding the death of government members."

He added: "This constitutes an clear THREAT. Each congressional member, every Representative, the entire nation – irrespective of political affiliation – should condemn this immediately and without qualification."

The Republican House speaker defended Trump's claim that the Democrats had engaged in "treason", labeling the video as "wildly inappropriate", commenting: "This represents very risky, you have leading members of the legislature advising troops to ignore directives, I think that is historic in US history."

The Republican leader also according to sources told journalists that in what he read of Trump's posts, Trump was "explaining the crime of treason" but that "legal experts have to analyze the wording and establish all that."

Executive Branch Response

During a White House press conference on Thursday afternoon, when asked by a reporter, "Does the president want to kill elected officials?", the executive branch representative responded: "Certainly not."

"Let's be clear about what the former president is reacting to," the official stated. "You have active officials of the federal government who coordinated to orchestrate a video message to personnel of the American armed forces, to active duty service members urging them to ignore the executive's legal commands."

She stated: "The sanctity of our armed forces relies on the command structure, and if that chain of command is compromised, it can lead to casualties, it can lead to chaos, and that's what these elected officials ... are essentially supporting."