Washington spent Thursday in full political meltdown mode after President Donald Trump fired off a Truth Social post accusing a group of Democratic lawmakers of betraying the country.
Trump claimed their recent video urging troops and intelligence personnel to reject unlawful commands amounted to “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR” and tossed in language suggesting it could carry the harshest penalties.
Trump just called for the death of Democratic elected officials.
Absolutely vile. pic.twitter.com/sJgBSV86ya
— Democrats (@TheDemocrats) November 20, 2025
Trump is calling for the six Democratic lawmakers who urged the military not to follow any illegal orders to be arrested, and he’s reposting replies saying they should be hanged and calling them terrorists. pic.twitter.com/j4m7ZBcm50
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) November 20, 2025
The lawmakers in the video, a mix of former military officers and intelligence veterans, had urged people in uniform to stick to the law rather than blindly follow questionable orders.
Trump reacted with an explosion of capital letters, claiming the group should face arrest and a trial, and amplified a supporter’s post calling for extreme punishment.
Democrats blasted Trump’s comments as reckless and dangerous, accusing him of trying to intimidate critics and stir up hostility. The six lawmakers at the center of the storm put out a unified statement insisting they were not backing down and would not be bullied.
Q: “Trump said Democrats committed sedition punishable by death. Does he want to execute members of Congress?”
LEAVITT: “No.”Float the threat, deny intent, act like it never happened.
That’s how they normalize political violence. pic.twitter.com/K6q4DZbo5B
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) November 20, 2025
Even Republicans who typically stand by Trump backed away from the rhetoric. Sen. Lindsey Graham, usually one of Trump’s most loyal allies, said the remarks went too far, though he also criticized the Democrats’ video.
Sen. Rand Paul warned that casually talking about imprisoning or harming political rivals was a terrible idea and only inflames tensions.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted Trump was not literally calling for executions and instead argued that the lawmakers had irresponsibly used their national security credentials to imply that uniformed personnel should ignore the president’s authority. She suggested that their message could have legal implications, while the lawmakers dismissed the claim entirely.
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