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Democratic officials expressed outrage after former President Donald Trump accused a contingent of Democratic representatives of being "traitors" and stated they should be arrested and punished "with execution" following their release of a disputed video.

The Recording That Sparked the Dispute

The clip, shared on earlier this week, features six Democratic congress members who in the past acted in military or intelligence positions.

"Like us, you all took an oath to safeguard and defend this founding document," the officials stated in the 90-second video. "Currently, the threats to our governing document don't only come from overseas, but from right here at home. Our statutes are explicit, you can refuse unlawful commands, you can reject improper directives, you should refuse improper directives. No one has to carry out orders that break the statutes or our founding principles."

Trump's Angry Reply

The recorded statement seemed to prompt a angry reply from the previous commander-in-chief.

On Thursday morning, Trump wrote on his preferred platform: "This constitutes SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL."

In a separate post, he stated: "This represents really bad, and Harmful to our Country. Their statements cannot be allowed to persist. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

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

Party Representatives Respond

Following Trump's comments on that day, Democratic leadership published a joint statement censuring the statements.

"Political violence has no position in America," they declared. "Representatives who participated in the video all served our country with tremendous national pride and honor. We clearly condemn Donald Trump's offensive and risky death threats against members of Congress, and urge House Republicans to forcefully do the same."

The opposition officials also said that they had been in communication with law enforcement "to guarantee the safety of these officials and their loved ones."

"Donald Trump must right away delete these unhinged digital publications and retract his dangerous rhetoric before he leads to violence," the statement added.

Lawmakers' Firm Reaction

The representatives who appeared in the video also published a declaration.

"We identify as former service members and security experts who care for this United States and made an vow to protect and support the founding document of the United States," they declared. "That oath continues forever, and we plan to honor it. No warning, intimidation, or promotion of aggression will deter us from that sacred responsibility."

"The significant point is that the ex-president views it punishable by death for us to reiterate the statutes," they added. "Armed forces members should recognize that we have their support as they execute their oath to the founding principles and obligation to obey only lawful orders. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our responsibility."

They stated: "Every American must unite and condemn the former president's calls for our death and ideological conflict. This is a moment for moral clarity."

Additional Political Reactions

The Opposition leader also censured Trump's remarks and published on online networks: "We must be absolutely clear: the ex-commander in chief is calling for the death of elected officials."

He continued: "This constitutes an clear THREAT. Every Senator, every Representative, every American – without partisan consideration – should denounce this right away and absolutely."

The Republican House speaker supported Trump's allegation that the Democrats had participated in "sedition", describing the video as "wildly inappropriate", adding: "This constitutes very harmful, you have important representatives of the legislature telling soldiers to disobey orders, I think that is unprecedented in the nation's past."

The GOP official also according to sources told journalists that in what he reviewed of Trump's publications, Trump was "defining the crime of treason" but that "legal experts have to parse the wording and determine all that."

White House Response

During a White House press conference on later that day, when asked by a media member, "Would the president want to kill members of Congress?", the executive branch representative answered: "No."

"We should understand about what the president is reacting to," the representative stated. "There are current representatives of the American legislature who conspired to orchestrate a recorded statement to individuals of the American armed forces, to active duty service members encouraging them to defy the commander in chief's proper directives."

She added: "The integrity of our armed forces relies on the chain of command, and if that chain of command is violated, it can cause casualties, it can cause confusion, and that's what these members of Congress ... are fundamentally supporting."