Democrats Denounce Trump After He Suggests They Should Face Death Penalty
Lawmakers from the Democratic party voiced anger after Donald Trump accused a contingent of Democratic congress members of being "traitors" and declared they should be taken into custody and penalized "by death" following their posting of a disputed video.
The Content That Provoked the Dispute
The video footage, published on Tuesday, includes six Democratic elected officials who formerly worked in armed forces or defense positions.
"Similar to us, you all took an pledge to safeguard and defend this founding document," the officials affirmed in the short video. "At present, the dangers to our democratic foundation don't only come from overseas, but from domestically. Our laws are explicit, you can reject unlawful commands, you can decline improper directives, you must refuse improper directives. No one has to carry out directives that violate the law or our founding principles."
The Former President's Angry Reply
The clip reportedly trigger a angry reply from the previous commander-in-chief.
On Thursday morning, Trump published on his preferred platform: "It's called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these betrayers to our United States should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."
In another post, he declared: "This represents really serious, and Dangerous to our Nation. Their statements cannot be enabled to persist. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"
In a additional message, he continued: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, subject to punishment by DEATH!" He also redistributed a declaration that read: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"
Party Officials React
Following Trump's comments on that day, Top Democrats issued a unified announcement denouncing the statements.
"Partisan aggression has no place in America," they stated. "Representatives who were featured in the video all served our United States with tremendous loyalty and distinction. We strongly condemn Donald Trump's disgusting and dangerous calls for execution against members of Congress, and urge Republican lawmakers to strongly do the same."
The party representatives also said that they had been in touch with security officials "to guarantee the security of these officials and their families."
"Donald Trump must immediately delete these unhinged social media posts and recant his aggressive rhetoric before he leads to violence," the declaration added.
Lawmakers' Defiant Reaction
The officials who appeared in the video also issued a response.
"We serve as ex-military personnel and defense specialists who care for this United States and made an oath to protect and support the founding document of the United States," they stated. "That oath lasts a lifetime, and we plan to maintain it. No warning, pressure, or promotion of aggression will deter us from that fundamental duty."
"The most revealing aspect is that the president deems it punishable by execution for us to reiterate the legal requirements," they stated. "Military personnel should recognize that we have their protection as they execute their vow to the constitution and obligation to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our duty."
They continued: "All citizens must join forces and censure the ex-president's demands for our execution and political violence. This is a period for ethical certainty."
Additional Governmental Comments
The Opposition leader also condemned Trump's remarks and shared on digital platforms: "It's important to understand: the President of the United States is requesting the capital punishment of government members."
He stated: "This represents an direct THREAT. Every Senator, all representatives, every American – regardless of party – should condemn this without delay and absolutely."
The Republican House speaker justified Trump's allegation that the Democrats had participated in "rebellion", characterizing the video as "extremely improper", adding: "This represents very harmful, you have leading members of the legislature instructing troops to defy commands, I think that's without precedent in the nation's past."
The GOP official also according to sources informed the press that in what he reviewed of Trump's messages, Trump was "defining the offense of rebellion" but that "attorneys have to analyze the terminology and establish all that."
Executive Branch Reaction
During a White House press conference on that day, when questioned by a reporter, "Would the president want to put to death congressional representatives?", the White House press secretary answered: "Certainly not."
"We should understand about what the ex-commander in chief is addressing," the spokesperson said. "There are current representatives of the federal government who worked together to orchestrate 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 purity of our military depends on the command structure, and if that chain of command is compromised, it can lead to casualties, it can lead to disorder, and precisely what these congressional representatives ... are basically encouraging."