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Lawmakers from the Democratic party expressed fury after Donald Trump charged a contingent of Democratic representatives of being "traitors" and declared they should be detained and punished "by death" following their release of a contentious video.

The Content That Triggered the Dispute

The video footage, released on earlier this week, features six Democratic congress members who formerly acted in defense or security capacities.

"As we did, you all swore an vow to protect and uphold this founding document," the representatives declared in the short video. "And right now, the risks to our governing document aren't just from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are unambiguous, you can decline unlawful commands, you can refuse illegal orders, you have to refuse unlawful commands. No one has to follow directives that contravene the legal system or our national charter."

Donald Trump's Angry Reply

The clip appeared to provoke a heated response from the ex-president.

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

In another post, he declared: "This represents really bad, and Dangerous to our United States. Their statements cannot be enabled to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"

In a third post, he continued: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, subject to punishment by DEATH!" He also shared a statement that said: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Party Representatives Respond

Following Trump's comments on that day, Top Democrats released a unified announcement denouncing the comments.

"Violent politics has no role in America," they wrote. "Elected officials who participated in the video all worked our country with exceptional national pride and excellence. We clearly censure Donald Trump's appalling and dangerous death threats against members of Congress, and appeal to House Republicans to vigorously do the same."

The opposition officials also said that they had been in touch with law enforcement "to ensure the protection of these officials and their relatives."

"Donald Trump must right away delete these radical online messages and retract his violent discourse before he causes harm," the declaration added.

Representatives' Firm Response

The lawmakers who participated in the video also released a response.

"We are ex-military personnel and defense specialists who value this nation and took an vow to protect and uphold the constitution of the United States," they said. "Our pledge lasts a lifetime, and we aim to maintain it. No intimidation, coercion, or call for violence will prevent us from that sacred responsibility."

"The significant point is that the president considers it liable to punishment by execution for us to repeat the legal requirements," they stated. "Military personnel should understand that we have their support as they fulfill their vow to the national charter and responsibility to adhere to only lawful orders. It is not only the proper thing to do, but also our duty."

They added: "The entire nation must unite and censure the former president's requests for our death and political violence. This is a period for principled stance."

More Governmental Comments

The Democratic Senate minority leader also denounced Trump's remarks and posted on online networks: "Let's be crystal clear: the former president is requesting the death of elected officials."

He added: "This is an direct THREAT. Each congressional member, every Representative, all citizens – without partisan consideration – should denounce this immediately and unconditionally."

The GOP leader justified Trump's claim that the Democrats had been involved in "rebellion", characterizing the video as "wildly inappropriate", commenting: "This constitutes very risky, you have important representatives of the government advising military personnel to disobey orders, I think that's without precedent in US history."

The GOP official also allegedly stated to journalists that in what he examined of Trump's publications, Trump was "defining the violation of rebellion" but that "lawyers have to analyze the language and decide all that."

White House Response

During a White House press conference on that day, when asked by a reporter, "Is the president want to put to death members of Congress?", the White House press secretary answered: "Certainly not."

"It's important to note about what the former president is responding to," the official declared. "There are sitting members of the US Congress who conspired to arrange a recorded statement to personnel of the US military, to current military personnel encouraging them to defy the executive's lawful orders."

She added: "The integrity of our military depends on the chain of command, and if that system is broken, it can lead to people getting killed, it can result in confusion, and precisely what these congressional representatives ... are fundamentally encouraging."