President Donald Trump is demanding the arrest and prosecution of several Democratic lawmakers after they appeared in a video urging active-duty military and intelligence personnel to refuse what they described as unlawful commands. Trump labeled the lawmakers “seditious,” said they should be put on trial, and added that such behavior was “punishable by DEATH!” He also amplified a separate social media post calling for the Democrats to be “hanged.”
Democratic leaders denounced Trump’s comments as reckless and dangerous, calling them “unhinged” and urging Republicans to condemn the rhetoric as well. They also pressed Trump to delete the posts.
The escalation comes amid broad concern—across party lines—about rising political violence in the United States following recent high-profile assassinations, including conservative activist Charlie Kirk and a Democratic state lawmaker in Minnesota. Trump’s accusation of “sedition” is the latest flashpoint in a long-running clash in which both parties have accused the other of undermining the Constitution and democratic norms.
The lawmakers in the video—many of them veterans of the armed forces or intelligence agencies—warned that the country is facing constitutional stress and urged service members to uphold their oath. “Like us, you all swore an oath. To protect and defend this Constitution,” they said. “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.”
Trump responded on Truth Social Thursday morning, writing: “It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET.” In a follow-up post, he added: “This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???” He later reiterated that “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR” was “punishable by DEATH!”
The White House sought to tamp down the backlash. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was not calling for the execution of lawmakers. Asked directly whether he meant members of Congress should be killed, she replied, “No.” Leavitt argued instead that encouraging troops to break the chain of command could threaten national security and put lives at risk. “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,” she said.
The video surfaced as critics of the Trump administration question the legality of recent actions, including federal troop deployments to U.S. cities and lethal strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean.
The Democrats featured in the video are Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Reps. Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Rep. Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, and Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado. In the recording, they argue that service members have a duty to reject unlawful commands, saying, “The threats to our constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded sharply on X, calling Trump “sick in the head.” Newsweek reported it has reached out to the lawmakers named in the video for comment.
