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Democratic officials expressed outrage after former President Donald Trump accused a group of Democratic legislators of being "betrayers" and asserted they should be detained and penalized "through capital punishment" following their posting of a contentious video.

The Message That Sparked the Controversy

The recorded message, shared on earlier this week, features six Democratic elected officials who formerly worked in military or intelligence roles.

"As we did, you all made an oath to protect and support this national charter," the representatives declared in the brief video. "Currently, the threats to our democratic foundation aren't just from overseas, but from domestically. Our laws are explicit, you can decline unlawful commands, you can decline illegal orders, you should decline unlawful commands. No one has to follow commands that contravene the legal system or our constitution."

The Former President's Angry Response

The video message appeared to provoke a angry reply from the previous commander-in-chief.

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

In an additional publication, he stated: "This represents really serious, and Dangerous to our Country. Their statements cannot be permitted to persist. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

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

Party Officials React

Following Trump's statements on Thursday, Democratic leadership issued a unified announcement condemning the statements.

"Partisan aggression has no place in this nation," they wrote. "Elected officials who participated in the video all worked our nation with exceptional loyalty and excellence. We unequivocally censure Donald Trump's offensive and risky calls for execution against congressional representatives, and call on Republican lawmakers to strongly do the same."

The party representatives also mentioned that they had been in touch with protective services "to ensure the safety of these officials and their loved ones."

"Donald Trump must right away delete these unhinged digital publications and withdraw his aggressive rhetoric before he gets someone killed," the announcement stated.

Officials' Defiant Answer

The officials who participated in the video also issued a statement.

"We identify as former service members and security experts who value this United States and made an vow to safeguard and defend the constitution of the United States," they stated. "This commitment lasts a lifetime, and we intend to honor it. No intimidation, intimidation, or promotion of aggression will deter us from that sacred responsibility."

"The significant point is that the ex-president considers it punishable by execution for us to reiterate the law," they stated. "Military personnel should understand that we have their backs as they execute their vow to the national charter and duty to adhere to only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our obligation."

They continued: "The entire nation must unite and censure the president's calls for our murder and ideological conflict. This is a time for moral clarity."

Additional Partisan Responses

The Democratic Senate minority leader also condemned Trump's statements and posted on online networks: "We must be absolutely clear: the former president is demanding the death of elected officials."

He stated: "This constitutes an outright THREAT. All senators, all representatives, every American – regardless of party – should censure this immediately and unconditionally."

The GOP leader defended Trump's claim that the Democrats had been involved in "sedition", characterizing the video as "extremely improper", adding: "This constitutes very dangerous, you have leading members of the legislature instructing military personnel to defy commands, I think that is without precedent in US history."

The GOP official also allegedly told media outlets that in what he examined of Trump's messages, Trump was "describing the offense of sedition" but that "legal experts have to examine the language and decide all that."

Administration Response

During a White House press conference on later that day, when questioned by a journalist, "Is the president want to kill members of Congress?", the executive branch representative replied: "Absolutely not."

"Let's be clear about what the ex-commander in chief is addressing," the representative declared. "There are active officials of the US Congress who conspired to orchestrate a digital communication to individuals of the American armed forces, to active duty service members urging them to disobey the commander in chief's proper directives."

She added: "The integrity of our armed forces relies on the command structure, and if that chain of command is broken, it can cause people getting killed, it can cause chaos, and that's what these elected officials ... are fundamentally promoting."