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Trump accuses Democratic lawmakers of sedition after military video
Former President Donald Trump accused six Democratic lawmakers of "seditious behavior, punishable by death" on Thursday after they released a video urging U.S. service members to refuse unlawful commands, escalating tensions amid rising political violence.
Video sparks backlash
The video, shared by Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, features Senator Mark Kelly-a former Navy officer and astronaut-and Representatives Chris DeLuzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan, and Jason Crow, all with military or intelligence backgrounds. They emphasized that service members have a legal right to disobey illegal orders, stating, "Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders."
The lawmakers warned that threats to the Constitution are "not just coming from abroad but from right here at home," a veiled reference to Trump's policies, including his deployment of National Guard troops to U.S. cities, which face ongoing legal challenges.
Trump's response: Calls for arrests, trial
Trump reacted furiously on Truth Social, labeling the lawmakers' actions as "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL." He demanded their arrest and trial, writing, "An example MUST BE SET," and shared a post calling for their execution: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!".
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later defended Trump's remarks, accusing the Democrats of encouraging military personnel to defy "lawful orders." She suggested their actions "perhaps [are] punishable by law" but did not explicitly endorse calls for execution.
"No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation."
Joint statement from the six Democratic lawmakers
Political and legal fallout
House leaders confirmed they are coordinating with Capitol Police to protect the targeted lawmakers and their families. Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned Trump's rhetoric as dangerous, urging him to "recant his violent rhetoric before he gets someone killed."
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, defended Trump, framing the Democrats' video as "wildly inappropriate" and arguing Trump was merely "defining the crime of sedition." The Department of Justice and Pentagon are reviewing the matter, Johnson added.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump of normalizing political violence, stating, "No president has encouraged violence the way this president has." Recent polls, including an October Pew Research study, show 85% of Americans believe politically motivated violence is rising-a concern amplified by high-profile incidents this year, from the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk to an arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's home.
Broader context: Rising threats and swatting incidents
The dispute follows a pattern of escalating threats against public officials. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene reported increased threats after a public feud with Trump, including a death threat against her son. Separately, an Indiana Republican faced a "swatting" incident-false emergency calls triggering armed police responses-after Trump criticized him on Truth Social.
Legal experts note that U.S. military personnel are bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice to refuse "patently illegal" orders, including those violating the Constitution. The principle, long upheld since World War II, has gained renewed attention amid Trump's controversial troop deployments.
