President Donald Trump intensified his rhetoric against political opponents this week, accusing a group of Democratic lawmakers of sedition and saying they should be tried — and even executed — after they criticized his administration.
The comments came in response to a video shared online by six Democratic members of Congress, all former military or intelligence veterans. In the clip, they urged service members and intelligence personnel to “refuse illegal orders” and to reject any directives from the Trump administration that violate the Constitution.
On Thursday, Nov. 20, Trump posted a series of angry messages on Truth Social targeting Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Reps. Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, New Hampshire Rep. Maggie Goodlander, and Colorado Rep. Jason Crow.
In one post, Trump called their message “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL,” labeling the lawmakers “traitors” and saying they should be “ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL.” He added that “an example MUST BE SET.”
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He followed up with another post calling their words “bad” and “dangerous,” writing that such statements could not be allowed to stand. Trump punctuated the message with “LOCK THEM UP???”
Later, the president posted again, declaring the lawmakers’ actions “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”
Trump also reshared supportive reactions from users, including one praising the idea of hanging the lawmakers.
During a White House press briefing on Nov. 20, press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked if Trump was calling for members of Congress to be executed. She responded simply, “No.”
In the video that prompted Trump’s reaction, the lawmakers addressed service members directly, saying they understood the pressure troops may feel and warning that public trust in the military could be put at risk. They argued that the administration was turning military and intelligence professionals against fellow Americans and emphasized the oath to defend the Constitution.
They added that threats to the Constitution can come from within the country, not just abroad, and said military members are legally permitted to refuse unlawful orders. “No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution,” they said.
The video appeared about a week after Slotkin introduced the No Troops in Our Streets Act, a proposal that would allow Congress to block or end the deployment of National Guard troops through a majority vote.
On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared on Fox News and condemned the lawmakers’ video. He said there was “nothing illegal” about Trump’s actions and suggested the Justice Department could look into the lawmakers behind the message. Blanche called the video “abhorrent content” and said they should be required to answer why they released it.
