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Democratic officials demonstrated anger after Donald Trump charged a contingent of Democratic representatives of being "betrayers" and asserted they should be arrested and punished "by death" following their publication of a contentious video.

The Message That Provoked the Dispute

The clip, published on earlier this week, features six Democratic lawmakers who in the past worked in armed forces or security roles.

"As we did, you all swore an oath to defend and uphold this national charter," the representatives declared in the brief video. "At present, the dangers to our constitution aren't just from overseas, but from domestically. Our regulations are clear, you can decline improper directives, you can refuse improper directives, you have to refuse unlawful commands. No one has to carry out directives that break the legal system or our national charter."

Trump's Furious Reaction

The recorded statement appeared to provoke a heated response from the ex-president.

On later in the week, Trump wrote on his preferred platform: "It's called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these turncoats to our United States should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In another message, he declared: "This constitutes really serious, and Risky to our Nation. Their statements cannot be allowed to persist. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

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

Opposition Leaders React

Following Trump's comments on Thursday, Top Democrats published a combined declaration denouncing the remarks.

"Partisan aggression has no position in the United States," they wrote. "Representatives who appeared in the video all worked our United States with exceptional patriotism and distinction. We clearly denounce Donald Trump's offensive and dangerous calls for execution against members of Congress, and urge GOP representatives to forcefully do the same."

The party representatives also said that they had been in communication with law enforcement "to guarantee the protection of these representatives and their relatives."

"Donald Trump must immediately delete these extreme online messages and recant his dangerous rhetoric before he causes harm," the declaration stated.

Officials' Firm Answer

The representatives who participated in the video also released a response.

"We identify as former service members and national security professionals who value this country and swore an vow to defend and defend the founding document of the United States," they said. "That oath continues forever, and we plan to honor it. No threat, intimidation, or incitement will deter us from that important responsibility."

"The significant point is that the ex-president deems it liable to punishment by capital punishment for us to restate the law," they stated. "Armed forces members should understand that we have their protection as they execute their vow to the national charter and duty to follow only proper directives. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our duty."

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

Additional Partisan Responses

The Democratic Senate minority leader also censured Trump's remarks and posted on online networks: "It's important to understand: the former president is calling for the execution of public representatives."

He stated: "This is an direct THREAT. Each congressional member, every Representative, all citizens – without partisan consideration – should condemn this immediately and unconditionally."

The Republican House speaker defended Trump's claim that the Democrats had participated in "rebellion", describing the video as "wildly inappropriate", stating: "This represents very harmful, you have important representatives of Congress instructing soldiers to defy commands, I think that is unprecedented in the nation's past."

The GOP official also according to sources informed media outlets that in what he read of Trump's messages, Trump was "defining the offense of rebellion" but that "legal experts have to parse the language and determine all that."

Executive Branch Response

During a White House press conference on Thursday afternoon, when asked by a media member, "Would the president want to execute elected officials?", the executive branch representative replied: "No."

"We should understand about what the ex-commander in chief is reacting to," the representative stated. "There are sitting members of the American legislature who conspired to arrange a video message to members of the American armed forces, to active duty service members encouraging them to ignore the president's legal commands."

She stated: "The integrity of our military relies on the command structure, and if that structure is compromised, it can lead to people getting killed, it can lead to disorder, and precisely what these elected officials ... are basically promoting."