President Donald Trump accused six Democratic lawmakers of “seditious behavior” and called for them to be “arrested and placed on trial” in social media posts, declaring their actions “punishable by death.” The inflammatory statements came in response to a video the Democrats released to military service members.
The video, posted by Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, featured six lawmakers—all military or intelligence veterans—speaking directly to members of the armed forces and intelligence community. Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Slotkin were joined by Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania in the message.
“This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens,” the lawmakers said in the video. “Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats coming to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad but from right here at home.”
The Democrats reminded service members they could refuse illegal orders under existing military law. “Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders,” the group stated. “No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.” The Uniform Code of Military Justice specifically allows service members to refuse illegal orders.
Trump responded with multiple posts on his platform. In one, he wrote: “This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???” In another post, he declared: “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”
The president also reshared a post from another user stating “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!” Trump adviser Stephen Miller accused the Democrats of calling for insurrection in response to the video.
At a White House press briefing, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Trump was not calling for executions of members of Congress. She criticized the lawmakers for what she described as encouraging service members to defy lawful orders, calling the video’s message “very dangerous” and suggesting it “perhaps is punishable by law.”
The six Democrats released a joint statement condemning Trump’s remarks. “What’s most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law,” they said. “Our servicemembers should know that we have their backs as they fulfill their oath to the Constitution and obligation to follow only lawful orders.”
The lawmakers called on Americans to “unite and condemn the President’s calls for our murder and political violence.” Military protocol establishes that service members have both the right and obligation to refuse orders that violate the Constitution or federal law, a principle dating back decades in military jurisprudence.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer addressed the controversy from the Senate floor. “Let’s be crystal clear, the president of the United States is calling for the execution of elected officials,” Schumer said. He warned that Trump “makes political violence more likely” with such statements and added that the president “is lighting a match in a country soaked with political gasoline.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson said “the words that the president chose are not the ones that I would use” but called the Democratic video “wildly inappropriate” and “very dangerous.” Johnson maintained that the Justice Department and Pentagon were examining the legality of the lawmakers’ actions.
Crow reported that threats against him exploded following Trump’s posts. He published recordings of disturbing voice messages he received, several featuring callers wishing death on his family. A bomb threat was made against his district office in Aurora, Colorado. Deluzio similarly said he received threats after Trump’s social media post.
The Defense Department announced it would open a review of “serious allegations of misconduct” against Kelly. The department cited a law barring retired service members from issuing orders to active duty soldiers, though Kelly issued no orders in the video. The review “may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures,” the department stated.
Kelly responded defiantly to the investigation. “If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won’t work,” he wrote. “I’ve given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution.”
Trump later said he was not threatening death against the lawmakers, though he suggested they were “in serious trouble” and could face consequences for what he characterized as sedition. The concept of “seditious behavior” as Trump described it does not exist under U.S. law.
