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Democratic officials expressed fury after former President Donald Trump charged a coalition of Democratic legislators of being "traitors" and declared they should be taken into custody and punished "by death" following their posting of a controversial video.

The Recording That Triggered the Debate

The clip, released on earlier this week, includes six Democratic lawmakers who formerly worked in military or security roles.

"As we did, you all took an oath to protect and defend this national charter," the representatives affirmed in the 90-second video. "And right now, the dangers to our democratic foundation don't only come from overseas, but from domestically. Our statutes are clear, you can decline illegal orders, you can decline improper directives, you have to refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out directives that contravene the statutes or our national charter."

Donald Trump's Angry Reaction

The clip reportedly trigger a heated reply from the former president.

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

In another publication, he stated: "This constitutes really bad, and Harmful to our Nation. Their words cannot be enabled to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a third post, he continued: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" He also redistributed a comment that stated: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Opposition Representatives React

Following Trump's remarks on Thursday, Democratic leadership issued a combined declaration condemning the remarks.

"Political violence has no position in America," they stated. "Representatives who participated in the video all worked our United States with great patriotism and honor. We clearly denounce Donald Trump's offensive and risky death threats against congressional representatives, and urge GOP representatives to strongly do the same."

The party representatives also said that they had been in touch with protective services "to make certain the protection of these members and their relatives."

"Donald Trump must immediately take down these radical social media posts and recant his aggressive rhetoric before he causes harm," the statement stated.

Representatives' Defiant Answer

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

"We serve as former service members and security experts who value this nation and made an pledge to protect and uphold the constitution of the United States," they declared. "That oath is permanent, and we intend to maintain it. No threat, coercion, or call for violence will deter us from that sacred responsibility."

"What's most telling is that the president deems it liable to punishment by execution for us to repeat the law," they continued. "Military personnel should know that we have their protection as they carry out their pledge to the constitution and obligation to adhere to only proper directives. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They added: "The entire nation must join forces and censure the ex-president's demands for our murder and political violence. This is a period for moral clarity."

Further Governmental Comments

The Democratic Senate minority leader also condemned Trump's remarks and published on online networks: "We must be absolutely clear: the President of the United States is calling for the execution of elected officials."

He continued: "This represents an outright THREAT. Each congressional member, all representatives, all citizens – irrespective of political affiliation – should censure this right away and absolutely."

The GOP leader defended Trump's claim that the Democrats had engaged in "rebellion", characterizing the video as "extremely improper", commenting: "This constitutes very dangerous, you have leading members of the government telling troops to disobey orders, I think that's historic in US history."

The Conservative representative also according to sources stated to media outlets that in what he examined of Trump's publications, Trump was "explaining the violation of treason" but that "attorneys have to parse the language and establish all that."

White House Response

During a executive branch meeting on Thursday afternoon, when inquired by a journalist, "Would the president want to put to death congressional representatives?", the administration spokesperson replied: "No."

"Let's be clear about what the ex-commander in chief is responding to," the spokesperson declared. "You have sitting members of the US Congress who conspired to orchestrate a recorded statement to members of the national defense, to current military personnel advising them to disobey the president's lawful orders."

She said: "The purity of our defense system relies on the command structure, and if that structure is broken, it can cause people getting killed, it can lead to chaos, and that is exactly what these congressional representatives ... are fundamentally supporting."