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Democratic officials expressed anger after former President Donald Trump charged a contingent of Democratic congress members of being "betrayers" and declared they should be taken into custody and penalized "through capital punishment" following their posting of a contentious video.

The Content That Provoked the Dispute

The clip, released on earlier this week, includes six Democratic elected officials who in the past served in military or defense capacities.

"As we did, you all made an pledge to defend and defend this national charter," the lawmakers affirmed in the brief video. "And right now, the risks to our democratic foundation don't only come from overseas, but from right here at home. Our regulations are unambiguous, you can decline improper directives, you can decline unlawful commands, you must decline illegal orders. No one has to carry out commands that contravene the legal system or our national charter."

Donald Trump's Incensed Response

The clip reportedly provoke a heated reply from the previous commander-in-chief.

On the following morning, Trump posted on his social media platform: "This constitutes SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these betrayers to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In a separate post, he stated: "This represents really bad, and Dangerous to our Nation. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a additional publication, he added: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, subject to punishment by DEATH!" He also shared a comment that said: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Party Leaders React

Following Trump's statements on Thursday, Top Democrats published a combined statement condemning the statements.

"Political violence has no role in this nation," they stated. "Elected officials who participated in the video all acted our United States with tremendous patriotism and excellence. We clearly condemn Donald Trump's appalling and risky death threats against congressional representatives, and call on GOP representatives to strongly do the same."

The party representatives also stated that they had been in communication with protective services "to ensure the security of these members and their relatives."

"Donald Trump must right away remove these radical social media posts and retract his aggressive language before he leads to violence," the declaration continued.

Lawmakers' Firm Response

The officials who appeared in the video also published a response.

"We are veterans and security experts who care for this country and took an pledge to defend and defend the founding document of the United States," they said. "That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to honor it. No warning, pressure, or incitement will prevent us from that sacred obligation."

"The significant point is that the president deems it liable to punishment by death for us to repeat the law," they continued. "Armed forces members should know that we have their protection as they execute their oath to the national charter and responsibility to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the correct thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They stated: "The entire nation must join forces and denounce the president's demands for our execution and partisan aggression. This is a period for principled stance."

More Governmental Reactions

The Democratic Senate minority leader also condemned Trump's remarks and posted on social media: "It's important to understand: the former president is calling for the death of elected officials."

He added: "This constitutes an clear THREAT. All senators, each house member, all citizens – regardless of party – should condemn this without delay and absolutely."

The GOP leader defended Trump's claim that the Democrats had participated in "rebellion", describing the video as "wildly inappropriate", adding: "This constitutes very risky, you have leading members of Congress advising soldiers to defy commands, I think that is without precedent in American history."

The GOP official also according to sources told media outlets that in what he examined of Trump's messages, Trump was "explaining the violation of treason" but that "lawyers have to parse the language and establish all that."

White House Reaction

During a administration briefing on later that day, when asked by a reporter, "Would the president want to put to death congressional representatives?", the executive branch representative responded: "Absolutely not."

"Let's be clear about what the president is responding to," the spokesperson said. "You have sitting members of the federal government who conspired to organize a digital communication to members of the American armed forces, to current military personnel urging them to disobey the executive's proper directives."

She stated: "The purity of our military depends on the chain of command, and if that chain of command is broken, it can result in casualties, it can cause disorder, and precisely what these elected officials ... are essentially encouraging."