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Democratic officials voiced fury after former President Donald Trump charged a coalition of Democratic legislators of being "traitors" and asserted they should be detained and punished "with execution" following their publication of a contentious video.

The Message That Triggered the Dispute

The video footage, published on earlier this week, features six Democratic congress members who formerly worked in armed forces or intelligence capacities.

"Similar to us, you all swore an oath to safeguard and uphold this founding document," the representatives stated in the 90-second video. "And right now, the risks to our constitution aren't just from overseas, but from within our own country. Our laws are clear, you can decline illegal orders, you can reject unlawful commands, you have to decline illegal orders. No one has to follow commands that break the legal system or our founding principles."

Trump's Incensed Reaction

The recorded statement appeared to provoke a angry reply from the former president.

On Thursday morning, Trump wrote on his preferred platform: "It's called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these betrayers to our Nation should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In an additional publication, he declared: "This represents really bad, and Risky to our Country. Their words cannot be enabled to remain. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

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

Democratic Officials React

Following Trump's statements on Thursday, Top Democrats issued a unified statement denouncing the remarks.

"Political violence has no position in the United States," they stated. "Elected officials who participated in the video all acted our country with great national pride and distinction. We clearly denounce Donald Trump's offensive and dangerous calls for execution against congressional representatives, and urge Republican lawmakers to strongly do the same."

The party representatives also mentioned that they had been in contact with security officials "to ensure the safety of these officials and their families."

"Donald Trump must immediately take down these radical digital publications and retract his violent language before he leads to violence," the statement stated.

Lawmakers' Defiant Response

The officials who appeared in the video also released a response.

"We are former service members and security experts who care for this country and made an oath to protect and support the constitution of the United States," they stated. "That oath continues forever, and we intend to maintain it. No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will prevent us from that sacred obligation."

"What's most telling is that the ex-president views it liable to punishment by death for us to restate the statutes," they stated. "Military personnel should recognize that we have their protection as they fulfill their pledge to the constitution and duty to obey only legal commands. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our obligation."

They stated: "Every American must join forces and denounce the former president's requests for our death and ideological conflict. This is a moment for principled stance."

Further Partisan Comments

The Senate Democratic leader also denounced Trump's statements and published on digital platforms: "It's important to understand: the President of the United States is requesting the death of elected officials."

He stated: "This is an outright THREAT. Every Senator, every Representative, the entire nation – regardless of party – should denounce this right away and unconditionally."

The GOP leader defended Trump's claim that the Democrats had engaged in "treason", labeling the video as "wildly inappropriate", commenting: "It is very dangerous, you have leading members of the legislature instructing military personnel to disobey orders, I think that is without precedent in the nation's past."

The Republican leader also allegedly told journalists that in what he read of Trump's posts, Trump was "explaining the crime of sedition" but that "legal experts have to examine the terminology and determine all that."

Executive Branch Reaction

During a executive branch meeting on Thursday afternoon, when asked by a reporter, "Does the president want to kill members of Congress?", the executive branch representative responded: "Absolutely not."

"Let's be clear about what the ex-commander in chief is addressing," the representative stated. "There are active officials of the American legislature who worked together to organize a recorded statement to individuals of the US military, to serving soldiers encouraging them to ignore the president's legal commands."

She stated: "The integrity of our defense system relies on the hierarchy, and if that structure is compromised, it can lead to fatalities, it can cause chaos, and that is exactly what these members of Congress ... are fundamentally supporting."