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Democratic officials demonstrated fury after Donald Trump charged a contingent of Democratic legislators of being "betrayers" and declared they should be taken into custody and sentenced "with execution" following their posting of a contentious video.

The Content That Triggered the Controversy

The recorded message, released on Tuesday, features six Democratic elected officials who previously acted in military or security capacities.

"Like us, you all swore an pledge to protect and uphold this national charter," the officials stated in the short video. "Currently, the risks to our constitution are not only from overseas, but from domestically. Our regulations are unambiguous, you can reject illegal orders, you can refuse improper directives, you should decline improper directives. No one has to carry out directives that break the law or our national charter."

The Former President's Angry Reply

The clip appeared to prompt a angry reply from the previous commander-in-chief.

On the following morning, Trump wrote on his social media platform: "This represents SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these turncoats to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In a separate post, he stated: "This represents really serious, and Harmful to our Nation. Their comments cannot be enabled to remain. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a subsequent publication, he stated: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" He also reposted a declaration that stated: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Democratic Officials Respond

Following Trump's statements on Thursday, Top Democrats released a joint statement condemning the remarks.

"Violent politics has no place in the United States," they declared. "Congress members who appeared in the video all worked our country with exceptional patriotism and excellence. We strongly censure Donald Trump's offensive and risky death threats against members of Congress, and appeal to Republican lawmakers to forcefully do the same."

The party representatives also stated that they had been in touch with security officials "to guarantee the protection of these representatives and their families."

"Donald Trump must without delay delete these radical social media posts and withdraw his dangerous language before he gets someone killed," the statement continued.

Officials' Strong Answer

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

"We identify as ex-military personnel and security experts who value this United States and made an oath to safeguard and uphold the constitution of the United States," they said. "That oath continues forever, and we intend to maintain it. No intimidation, pressure, or incitement will stop us from that sacred obligation."

"What's most telling is that the ex-president deems it liable to punishment by execution for us to restate the legal requirements," they continued. "Armed forces members should understand that we have their backs as they execute their oath to the national charter and duty to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They stated: "Every American must unite and condemn the ex-president's demands for our death and political violence. This is a moment for principled stance."

Additional Governmental Reactions

The Senate Democratic leader also censured Trump's statements and published on digital platforms: "It's important to understand: the ex-commander in chief is calling for the capital punishment of government members."

He continued: "This is an direct THREAT. Each congressional member, all representatives, all citizens – irrespective of political affiliation – should censure this without delay and unconditionally."

The GOP leader defended Trump's claim that the Democrats had been involved in "sedition", describing the video as "extremely improper", adding: "It is very harmful, you have leading members of the legislature telling troops to defy commands, I think that represents historic in the nation's past."

The Conservative representative also reportedly informed the press that in what he reviewed of Trump's publications, Trump was "defining the crime of treason" but that "lawyers have to parse the wording and establish all that."

Executive Branch Statement

During a administration briefing on Thursday afternoon, when inquired by a journalist, "Is the president want to execute congressional representatives?", the executive branch representative replied: "Absolutely not."

"Let's be clear about what the former president is responding to," the spokesperson said. "We see current representatives of the American legislature who coordinated to organize a video message to individuals of the US military, to serving soldiers urging them to disobey the commander in chief's lawful orders."

She stated: "The integrity of our armed forces relies on the chain of command, and if that system is compromised, it can lead to casualties, it can lead to confusion, and that's what these congressional representatives ... are fundamentally promoting."