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Democratic officials expressed outrage after the ex-president accused a group of Democratic representatives of being "traitors" and stated they should be detained and sentenced "by death" following their publication of a disputed video.

The Content That Triggered the Controversy

The recorded message, released on Tuesday, includes six Democratic lawmakers who in the past worked in military or intelligence positions.

"As we did, you all swore an oath to defend and uphold this national charter," the officials declared in the brief video. "At present, the dangers to our governing document don't only come from abroad, but from within our own country. Our statutes are unambiguous, you can refuse unlawful commands, you can decline improper directives, you must refuse illegal orders. No one has to execute orders that break the legal system or our constitution."

Trump's Incensed Response

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

On Thursday morning, Trump posted 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 publication, he declared: "This represents really serious, and Dangerous to our United States. Their statements cannot be enabled to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a third publication, he added: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" He also redistributed a statement that said: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Democratic Leaders Respond

Following Trump's comments on Thursday, Democratic leadership published a unified declaration condemning the comments.

"Violent politics has no place in this nation," they stated. "Representatives who were featured in the video all worked our nation with exceptional loyalty and excellence. We unequivocally condemn Donald Trump's appalling and harmful calls for execution against elected officials, and urge House Republicans to vigorously do the same."

The opposition officials also said that they had been in contact with protective services "to guarantee the safety of these officials and their relatives."

"Donald Trump must immediately remove these radical digital publications and retract his violent rhetoric before he leads to violence," the statement continued.

Officials' Firm Response

The lawmakers who appeared in the video also issued a declaration.

"We are veterans and security experts who value this United States and made an pledge to safeguard and defend the founding document of the United States," they said. "Our pledge is permanent, and we aim to keep it. No warning, coercion, or incitement will deter us from that fundamental responsibility."

"The most revealing aspect is that the ex-president considers it punishable by execution for us to restate the statutes," they stated. "Military personnel should recognize that we have their support as they carry out their vow to the constitution and responsibility to follow only legal commands. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our obligation."

They added: "Every American must join forces and censure the ex-president's calls for our execution and political violence. This is a time for ethical certainty."

More Political Reactions

The Senate Democratic leader also denounced Trump's comments and published on online networks: "We must be absolutely clear: the former president is calling for the execution of government members."

He added: "This constitutes an direct THREAT. Each congressional member, every Representative, every American – without partisan consideration – should censure this without delay and without qualification."

The GOP leader supported Trump's claim that the Democrats had engaged in "rebellion", labeling the video as "extremely improper", commenting: "This represents very harmful, you have leading members of Congress advising soldiers to defy commands, I think that's historic in US history."

The Republican leader also reportedly told media outlets that in what he reviewed of Trump's posts, Trump was "explaining the offense of rebellion" but that "attorneys have to analyze the wording and determine all that."

White House Reaction

During a executive branch meeting on Thursday afternoon, when questioned by a reporter, "Would the president want to put to death elected officials?", the administration spokesperson responded: "Certainly not."

"It's important to note about what the former president is reacting to," the spokesperson stated. "We see sitting members of the US Congress who coordinated to organize a digital communication to individuals of the US military, to active duty service members advising them to ignore the commander in chief's proper directives."

She said: "The purity of our armed forces depends on the chain of command, and if that chain of command is violated, it can cause casualties, it can lead to confusion, and that's what these congressional representatives ... are essentially supporting."