President Donald Trump is facing sharp backlash from Democrats after he called for the arrest of several Democratic lawmakers and described their actions as “punishable by death.”
The controversy stems from a video in which a group of Democratic lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds urged service members and intelligence personnel to “refuse illegal orders.” In response, Trump labeled their conduct “seditious” and suggested it was behavior that could warrant the death penalty.
The lawmakers—Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Representatives Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, and New Hampshire Representative Maggie Goodlander—issued a joint statement rejecting Trump’s remarks and affirming their stance.
“We are veterans and national security professionals who love this country and swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it,” they said. “No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation.”
They argued that their message to servicemembers simply reiterated existing law.
“What’s most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law. Our servicemembers should know that we have their backs as they fulfill their oath to the Constitution and obligation to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our duty.
“But this isn’t about any one of us. This isn’t about politics. This is about who we are as Americans. Every American must unite and condemn the President’s calls for our murder and political violence. This is a time for moral clarity.
“In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage. We will continue to lead and will not be intimidated.
“Don’t Give Up the Ship!”
Why It Matters
Trump’s comments arrive amid intense concern over rising political violence in the United States, including attempted assassinations of the president during the 2024 campaign, as well as the killings of a Democratic lawmaker in Minnesota and conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Both major parties have, at different times over the past five years, accused the other of fueling extremism and undermining democratic norms—whether in connection with the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol or protests over federal immigration enforcement in 2025.
What the Lawmakers Said
In their original video, the lawmakers—drawing on their military and intelligence experience—called on U.S. service members to reject orders they believe are unlawful. The message followed reported operations against alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, as well as actions within the United States targeting immigrants and American citizens.
“This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens,” the Democrats say in the video.
“Like us, you all swore an oath. To protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats to our constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.”
They continue: “We know this is hard, and that it’s a difficult time to be a public servant. But whether you’re serving in the CIA, the Army, our Navy, the Air Force, your vigilance is critical. And know that we have your back. We need you to stand up for our laws, our constitution, and who we are as Americans.”
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth criticized the video, accusing the lawmakers of suffering from “TDS,” or “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
Trump escalated the response further, accusing them of “seditious behavior”—a term generally associated with rebellion against government authority. In U.S. law, sedition is typically punished by lengthy prison terms or substantial fines, not the death penalty.
Democratic Leaders Respond
Top House Democrats quickly condemned Trump’s language and framed it as part of a broader pattern.
“We unequivocally condemn Donald Trump’s disgusting and dangerous death threats against Members of Congress and call on House Republicans to forcefully do the same,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar said in a joint statement.
“Donald Trump incited a violent attack on the Capitol on January 6th as part of a treacherous attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The President’s violent and unhinged rhetoric against American patriots is consistent with his well-documented history of attacking prisoners of war, Gold Star families and war heroes,” they said.
“There is no bottom when it comes to Donald Trump. We have been in contact with the House Sergeant at Arms and the United States Capitol Police to ensure the safety of these Members and their families. Donald Trump must immediately delete these unhinged social media posts and recant his violent rhetoric before he gets someone killed.”
At the White House podium, press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted the president was not literally calling for the execution of Democratic lawmakers. When asked directly if Trump meant that the members of Congress—all military veterans—should be killed, she answered, “No.”
Instead, Leavitt argued that urging troops to defy the chain of command endangered national security and could cost lives.
“Every single order given to the U.S. military by this commander in chief, through the chain of command and the secretary of war, is lawful,” Leavitt said
What Happens Next
It is still unclear whether any legal action will be taken against the lawmakers over their video or whether Trump’s comments will trigger formal responses beyond stepped-up security. The episode adds yet another flashpoint to an already fraught political climate, with both rhetoric and concerns about potential violence continuing to escalate.
