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Democratic officials demonstrated fury after Donald Trump alleged a group of Democratic representatives of being "turncoats" and asserted they should be arrested and penalized "through capital punishment" following their publication of a disputed video.

The Recording That Provoked the Dispute

The clip, shared on earlier this week, features six Democratic congress members who previously worked in armed forces or defense roles.

"As we did, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this founding document," the lawmakers stated in the short video. "And right now, the threats to our governing document don't only come from overseas, but from domestically. Our statutes are unambiguous, you can refuse improper directives, you can refuse unlawful commands, you should decline illegal orders. No one has to follow commands that contravene the law or our constitution."

The Former President's Angry Response

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

On the following morning, Trump posted on his preferred platform: "This constitutes SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In a separate message, he stated: "This represents really bad, and Harmful to our United States. Their statements cannot be enabled to remain. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a additional publication, he continued: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, liable by DEATH!" He also redistributed a comment that read: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Democratic Representatives React

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

"Partisan aggression has no role in America," they declared. "Congress members who were featured in the video all served our nation with great patriotism and excellence. We unequivocally denounce Donald Trump's disgusting and harmful threats of violence against congressional representatives, and appeal to House Republicans to strongly do the same."

The opposition officials also said that they had been in communication with protective services "to ensure the protection of these representatives and their relatives."

"Donald Trump must immediately take down these extreme digital publications and recant his violent discourse before he leads to violence," the declaration continued.

Officials' Strong Answer

The lawmakers who participated in the video also released a statement.

"We are ex-military personnel and security experts who value this country and took an vow to protect and uphold the national charter of the United States," they said. "Our pledge continues forever, and we intend to keep it. No threat, coercion, or call for violence will stop us from that important duty."

"The significant point is that the ex-president deems it subject to penalty by execution for us to repeat the legal requirements," they added. "Our service members should understand that we have their protection as they carry out their oath to the constitution and obligation to follow only proper directives. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They continued: "Every American must unite and censure the ex-president's demands for our death and ideological conflict. This is a time for ethical certainty."

More Governmental Comments

The Democratic Senate minority leader also censured Trump's remarks and posted on digital platforms: "Let's be crystal clear: the former president is requesting the execution of government members."

He added: "This constitutes an clear THREAT. Each congressional member, all representatives, the entire nation – regardless of party – should censure this right away and without qualification."

The Conservative official defended Trump's claim that the Democrats had participated in "rebellion", labeling the video as "highly unsuitable", adding: "This represents very harmful, you have important representatives of the legislature advising military personnel to disobey orders, I think that is historic in the nation's past."

The GOP official also reportedly stated to media outlets that in what he reviewed of Trump's messages, Trump was "defining the offense of rebellion" but that "attorneys have to analyze the wording and decide all that."

White House Response

During a executive branch meeting on later that day, when questioned by a reporter, "Would the president want to execute elected officials?", the White House press secretary replied: "Absolutely not."

"Let's be clear about what the former president is responding to," the representative declared. "There are sitting members of the American legislature who conspired to orchestrate a video message to members of the national defense, to active duty service members encouraging them to disobey the president's proper directives."

She said: "The integrity of our defense system rests on the command structure, and if that system is violated, it can result in people getting killed, it can result in chaos, and that's what these members of Congress ... are basically supporting."