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Lawmakers from the Democratic party voiced outrage after the ex-president accused a group of Democratic congress members of being "turncoats" and declared they should be taken into custody and sentenced "by death" following their release of a disputed video.

The Content That Sparked the Dispute

The recorded message, released on Tuesday, includes six Democratic lawmakers who formerly worked in defense or security positions.

"Like us, you all took an pledge to safeguard and uphold this founding document," the officials affirmed in the short video. "At present, the dangers to our governing document aren't just from overseas, but from within our own country. Our laws are unambiguous, you can reject improper directives, you can decline illegal orders, you should refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the statutes or our founding principles."

The Former President's Angry Reply

The recorded statement appeared to prompt a angry reaction from the former president.

On Thursday morning, Trump posted on his preferred platform: "This constitutes SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these turncoats to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In another post, he stated: "This represents really concerning, and Dangerous to our Nation. Their words cannot be permitted to persist. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

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

Party Officials React

Following Trump's statements on Thursday, Democratic leadership issued a combined announcement denouncing the statements.

"Political violence has no place in the United States," they wrote. "Elected officials who participated in the video all acted our United States with great patriotism and excellence. We unequivocally censure Donald Trump's offensive and harmful death threats against members of Congress, and urge GOP representatives to vigorously do the same."

The party representatives also mentioned that they had been in contact with protective services "to guarantee the protection of these members and their families."

"Donald Trump must without delay take down these extreme social media posts and recant his aggressive language before he causes harm," the declaration continued.

Representatives' Strong Answer

The lawmakers who participated in the video also published a statement.

"We serve as ex-military personnel and security experts who care for this nation and made an pledge to protect and support the founding document of the United States," they declared. "This commitment lasts a lifetime, and we plan to maintain it. No threat, pressure, or incitement will stop us from that important responsibility."

"The most revealing aspect is that the ex-president views it subject to penalty by capital punishment for us to repeat the law," they added. "Our service members should understand that we have their backs as they fulfill their oath to the national charter and duty to follow only legal commands. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our duty."

They continued: "Every American must unite and denounce the ex-president's demands for our execution and partisan aggression. This is a time for principled stance."

Further Partisan Responses

The Democratic Senate minority leader also denounced Trump's comments and shared on online networks: "It's important to understand: the President of the United States is calling for the capital punishment of government members."

He added: "This is an clear THREAT. Each congressional member, each house member, all citizens – irrespective of political affiliation – should condemn this immediately and without qualification."

The GOP leader defended Trump's allegation that the Democrats had participated in "sedition", characterizing the video as "wildly inappropriate", stating: "This constitutes very harmful, you have leading members of the government instructing military personnel to defy commands, I think that's historic in the nation's past."

The GOP official also allegedly told media outlets that in what he read of Trump's publications, Trump was "describing the crime of sedition" but that "lawyers have to parse the language and determine all that."

Executive Branch Reaction

During a White House press conference on later that day, when inquired by a reporter, "Would the president want to put to death members of Congress?", the executive branch representative answered: "Absolutely not."

"Let's be clear about what the ex-commander in chief is responding to," the official declared. "We see sitting members of the American legislature who conspired to organize a recorded statement to individuals of the American armed forces, to serving soldiers urging them to defy the executive's lawful orders."

She said: "The sanctity of our armed forces rests on the hierarchy, and if that chain of command is compromised, it can lead to fatalities, it can result in confusion, and that's what these elected officials ... are fundamentally promoting."