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Lawmakers from the Democratic party expressed outrage after the ex-president charged a contingent of Democratic congress members of being "turncoats" and stated they should be arrested and sentenced "with execution" following their publication of a contentious video.

The Message That Provoked the Controversy

The clip, published on earlier this week, features six Democratic congress members who previously served in military or defense capacities.

"As we did, you all made an pledge to protect and support this founding document," the officials declared in the 90-second video. "Currently, the threats to our constitution are not only from abroad, but from domestically. Our regulations are unambiguous, you can decline illegal orders, you can refuse improper directives, you should decline unlawful commands. No one has to carry out orders that contravene the law or our national charter."

Donald Trump's Incensed Reply

The recorded statement reportedly prompt a furious reaction from the ex-president.

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

In an additional message, he stated: "This represents really concerning, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to persist. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a third publication, he added: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, subject to punishment by DEATH!" He also redistributed a comment that read: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Party Leaders Respond

Following Trump's comments on Thursday, Democratic leadership released a unified statement censuring the remarks.

"Political violence has no position in the United States," they wrote. "Elected officials who appeared in the video all served our nation with great national pride and honor. We clearly censure Donald Trump's offensive and risky threats of violence against members of Congress, and appeal to House Republicans to strongly do the same."

The Democratic leaders also said that they had been in communication with security officials "to guarantee the security of these representatives and their loved ones."

"Donald Trump must without delay delete these radical digital publications and retract his aggressive discourse before he gets someone killed," the declaration stated.

Representatives' Strong Reaction

The representatives who were featured in the video also released a declaration.

"We identify as former service members and national security professionals who love this nation and made an vow to defend and support the national charter of the United States," they said. "That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to maintain it. No intimidation, pressure, or call for violence will prevent us from that sacred obligation."

"What's most telling is that the former president deems it punishable by death for us to repeat the legal requirements," they continued. "Military personnel should understand that we have their backs as they fulfill their pledge to the founding principles and responsibility to obey only proper directives. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our duty."

They continued: "All citizens must come together and condemn the ex-president's calls for our murder and ideological conflict. This is a period for moral clarity."

More Partisan Responses

The Senate Democratic leader also censured Trump's comments and published on online networks: "We must be absolutely clear: the ex-commander in chief is demanding the capital punishment of public representatives."

He continued: "This represents an clear THREAT. Every Senator, each house member, every American – without partisan consideration – should condemn this immediately and unconditionally."

The Conservative official justified Trump's claim that the Democrats had been involved in "rebellion", describing the video as "highly unsuitable", commenting: "This constitutes very dangerous, you have important representatives of Congress instructing troops to disobey orders, I think that's unprecedented in US history."

The Republican leader also according to sources told the press that in what he examined of Trump's posts, Trump was "explaining the offense of rebellion" but that "legal experts have to analyze the terminology and establish all that."

Executive Branch Statement

During a executive branch meeting on Thursday afternoon, when asked by a journalist, "Does the president want to execute members of Congress?", the administration spokesperson responded: "No."

"Let's be clear about what the ex-commander in chief is addressing," the spokesperson declared. "We see active officials of the federal government who coordinated to orchestrate a digital communication to members of the national defense, to current military personnel encouraging them to ignore the executive's legal commands."

She said: "The integrity of our defense system depends on the command structure, and if that chain of command is broken, it can lead to people getting killed, it can lead to disorder, and precisely what these elected officials ... are essentially supporting."