President Donald Trump has labeled six Democratic lawmakers “seditious” and called for them to be arrested, after the politicians posted a video urging members of the military and the intelligence community to refuse unlawful orders.
“This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country,” Trump said in a Truth Social post Thursday morning. “Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???”
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He followed up with another post about an hour later, saying, “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”
He also reposted several posts condemning the Democrats, including one from a user calling for the lawmakers to be hanged: “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!” the user wrote on Wednesday evening. Another post the President reposted urged officials to “Indict all of them.”
Trump’s furious posts come after Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Rep. Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, and Rep. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania released a video on Tuesday in which they spoke directly to members of the military and intelligence community. All six Democratic lawmakers either served in the military or in national security positions before they were elected to office.
“We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now,” they said in the video. “Americans trust their military. But that trust is at risk. This Administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against Americans citizens. 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,” they continued. “You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.”
The Democrats said they understood “this is hard” and a “difficult time to be a public servant,” but assured the community that “we have your back.”
“Now, more than ever, the American people need you. We need you to stand up for our laws, our Constitution, and who we are as Americans,” they said. “Don’t give up the ship.”
The lawmakers didn’t specify in the video what kinds of unlawful orders troops may be receiving. But Slotkin has, in the past, expressed concerns that the Trump Administration could deploy troops within the U.S. in response to protests. The President has faced widespread controversy in recent months over his deployment of National Guard troops to cities ranging from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles, in his effort to crack down on crime. Slotkin and Kelly also told news outlets that they, and some active service members, are worried about whether there is legal justification for the strikes that the Trump Administration has ordered on boats in the Caribbean that it has claimed were transporting drugs.
The Code of Military Justice requires service members to “obey any lawful general order or regulation.” But troops could be court-martialed for carrying out illegal orders, such as war crimes.
At the White House press briefing on Thursday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the Democrats’ video “a dangerous message” that “perhaps is punishable by law,” though she added “I’m not a lawyer.”
“They are suggesting the President has given illegal orders, which he has not,” she said. “We do things by the book.”
Several Democratic officials have filed lawsuits challenging the Trump Administration’s actions, and a federal judge ruled in September that the President broke the law when he sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles over the summer.
Many Democratic lawmakers condemned Trump’s Truth Social posts on Thursday, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who spoke about the issue on the Senate floor.
“Let’s be crystal clear: the President of the United States is calling for the execution of elected officials. This is an outright threat, and it’s deadly serious,” Schumer said. “We have already seen what happens when Donald Trump tells his followers that his political opponents are enemies of the state. Every time Donald Trump posts things like this, he makes political violence more likely. None of us should tolerate this kind of behavior.”
Schumer referenced the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, adding that the country has seen multiple assassinations and attempted assassinations this year.
“When Donald Trump uses the language of execution and treason, some of his supporters may very well listen. He is lighting a match in a country soaked with political gasoline,” Schumer continued. “Every Senator, every Representative, every American—regardless of party—should condemn this immediately and without qualification.”
