House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, weighed in Thursday after President Donald Trump accused several Democratic lawmakers of “seditious” conduct on Truth Social. Johnson said their behavior was “wildly inappropriate,” warning that urging troops to disobey orders crosses a serious line — while also distancing himself from Trump’s suggestion that the acts were punishable by death.
Trump’s posts targeted a group of Democrats who appeared in a video addressing members of the military and intelligence community. In it, the lawmakers urged service members to refuse what they described as “illegal orders.” Trump responded by calling the video “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR,” demanding arrests and trials, and in a later post claiming such conduct is “punishable by DEATH!”
Asked by CNN’s Manu Raju about Trump’s comments, Johnson said federal authorities were reviewing the situation, but emphasized that the video itself was “very dangerous” and, in his view, without precedent. He argued that elected officials telling troops to disobey orders risks undermining military discipline and public trust.
When Raju pressed him on whether the Democrats’ actions should actually be treated as a death-penalty offense, Johnson declined to go that far. “I’m going to let others define what it is,” he replied, reiterating that the episode was “wildly inappropriate.” Later the same day, Johnson clarified that he did not believe the lawmakers’ conduct merited capital punishment, adding that Trump had used words Johnson wouldn’t have chosen and was “trying to make a point.”
The Democrats referenced by Trump and Johnson include Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Representatives Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, and New Hampshire Representative Maggie Goodlander. All have military or intelligence backgrounds. They recorded the video after a series of administration actions — including strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels abroad and domestic operations tied to immigration enforcement — which critics say blur legal boundaries. In the video, the lawmakers argued that service members have both a right and duty to reject unlawful directives.
They said the administration was pushing uniformed and intelligence professionals into conflict with civilians and stressed that their oath is to the Constitution, not any single leader. They urged viewers to “refuse illegal orders,” warning that constitutional threats can come from within the country as well as outside it.
Democratic leaders quickly condemned Trump’s language. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar said Trump’s posts amounted to dangerous threats against public officials and insisted political violence has no place in American life. California Governor Gavin Newsom responded on X by calling Trump’s comments disturbing and unfit, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described the situation as a president openly calling for the execution of elected lawmakers. On the Republican side, Senator Marsha Blackburn dismissed the lawmakers’ message as partisan extremism and accused them of being consumed by anti-Trump politics.
For now, no charges have been announced. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that the president does not want members of Congress executed, even as she declined to walk back Trump’s earlier wording. Whether any formal legal action follows remains unclear.
