DOJO – A new political firestorm erupted in Washington on Thursday after President Donald Trump accused six Democratic lawmakers of “seditious behavior, punishable by DEATH” over a video urging U.S. military members to reject illegal orders. The lawmakers, all military or national security veterans, say their message simply restates long-established military law — and insist the president’s rhetoric poses real danger.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later insisted Trump “does not actually want to see members of Congress executed,” even as his Truth Social posts included reposts calling the Democrats “traitors” who should be hanged.
What the Democrats said in the video
The 90-second video, posted Tuesday by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, features Slotkin, Sen. Mark Kelly, and Reps. Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, and Chrissy Houlahan — all with military or intelligence backgrounds.
Speaking directly to active-duty service members, they repeated:
“You can refuse illegal orders.”
They accused the Trump administration of “pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens.” Without citing any specific illegal commands, they argued that service members are sworn to the Constitution — not an individual president — and must reject orders that violate the law.
Their message aligns with long-standing U.S. military doctrine: troops must obey lawful orders but can be prosecuted for carrying out unlawful ones.
How President Trump responded
Trump reposted more than a dozen comments calling the Democrats “traitors” and “insurrectionists,” adding his own captions:
- “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???”
- “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH.”
The president’s allies echoed the sentiment. Senior adviser Stephen Miller called the video “a general call for rebellion.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed it as “Stage 4 TDS.”
But when asked directly whether Trump wanted lawmakers executed, Press Secretary Leavitt replied bluntly: “No.” She argued instead that the Democrats encouraged troops to defy “lawful orders,” calling the video “dangerous” and potentially illegal.
Democrats say Trump is endangering lives
The lawmakers issued a joint statement calling Trump’s posts “dangerous” and “a threat,” saying:
“Every American must unite and condemn the President’s calls for our murder and political violence. This is a time for moral clarity.”
Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, called on Trump to delete the posts “before he gets someone killed.”
Schumer warned Trump was “lighting a match in a country soaked with political gasoline.”
Republicans split on Trump’s rhetoric
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump, saying he was merely “defining a crime,” not calling for violence. But Republican Sen. Rand Paul disagreed, warning the president’s language could inspire unstable followers to act violently.
“This kind of rhetoric isn’t good,” Paul said. “People may think they should take matters into their own hands.”
As of Thursday evening, President Trump had not deleted the posts.
