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Democratic officials voiced outrage after Donald Trump alleged a group of Democratic congress members of being "traitors" and declared they should be detained and penalized "by death" following their publication of a controversial video.

The Content That Sparked the Controversy

The video footage, shared on Tuesday, showcases six Democratic congress members who previously served in defense or intelligence positions.

"Similar to us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this constitution," the representatives affirmed in the brief video. "Currently, the threats to our constitution don't only come from foreign nations, but from within our own country. Our laws are explicit, you can reject unlawful commands, you can decline unlawful commands, you have to decline improper directives. No one has to follow commands that break the law or our national charter."

The Former President's Incensed Response

The video message seemed to provoke a furious reply from the previous commander-in-chief.

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

In a separate post, he declared: "This constitutes really serious, and Dangerous to our Nation. Their words cannot be permitted to persist. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a additional post, he stated: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, liable by DEATH!" He also reposted a declaration that said: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Party Representatives Respond

Following Trump's comments on Thursday, Top Democrats published a combined declaration denouncing the statements.

"Violent politics has no position in the United States," they wrote. "Elected officials who participated in the video all served our United States with exceptional patriotism and honor. We clearly denounce Donald Trump's appalling and dangerous death threats against congressional representatives, and appeal to House Republicans to strongly do the same."

The Democratic leaders also said that they had been in contact with security officials "to guarantee the safety of these officials and their families."

"Donald Trump must right away remove these extreme digital publications and retract his violent discourse before he gets someone killed," the announcement stated.

Officials' Strong Answer

The lawmakers who appeared in the video also released a declaration.

"We serve as veterans and security experts who love this nation and made an vow to defend and support the national charter of the United States," they said. "That oath continues forever, and we aim to maintain it. No threat, pressure, or promotion of aggression will stop us from that fundamental duty."

"The significant point is that the president views it subject to penalty by death for us to restate the statutes," they added. "Armed forces members should understand that we have their backs as they carry out their vow to the constitution and obligation to adhere to only legal commands. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our duty."

They stated: "Every American must join forces and censure the ex-president's calls for our murder and political violence. This is a moment for moral clarity."

Additional Political Responses

The Senate Democratic leader also condemned Trump's comments and posted on online networks: "We must be absolutely clear: the President of the United States is demanding the capital punishment of public representatives."

He continued: "This constitutes an direct THREAT. All senators, each house member, the entire nation – without partisan consideration – should censure this without delay and unconditionally."

The Republican House speaker defended Trump's claim that the Democrats had participated in "rebellion", describing the video as "wildly inappropriate", commenting: "This constitutes very dangerous, you have important representatives of the government telling military personnel to defy commands, I think that represents without precedent in American history."

The GOP official also according to sources stated to the press that in what he examined of Trump's publications, Trump was "describing the offense of sedition" but that "lawyers have to examine the terminology and determine all that."

White House Reaction

During a executive branch meeting on Thursday afternoon, when asked by a reporter, "Is the president want to kill congressional representatives?", the White House press secretary replied: "Absolutely not."

"Let's be clear about what the ex-commander in chief is addressing," the representative stated. "You have active officials of the US Congress who worked together to organize a digital communication to individuals of the national defense, to active duty service members urging them to defy the executive's proper directives."

She said: "The sanctity of our defense system depends on the command structure, and if that structure is broken, it can cause fatalities, it can cause confusion, and precisely what these members of Congress ... are essentially promoting."