WASHINGTON — President Trump on Thursday said he believes the actions of Democratic lawmakers who publicly called on active-duty military personnel to “refuse unlawful orders” constituted incitement of insurrection, which he said should be punishable by death.
“This is called SEDIMENTARY CONDUCT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each and every one of these traitors to our country must be ARRESTED AND TRIALED. Their words cannot be allowed to stand – we will no longer have a country!!! MUST SET AN EXAMPLE,” Trump says a post on social media.
Trump then circulated more than a dozen social media posts from others who responded to Trump's post by calling for Democrats to be arrested, charged and, in one case, hanged. Trump then continued: “SEDURY CONDUCT, punishable by DEATH!”
The President's statement was a reaction to joint video released by six Democratic lawmakers in which they called on military and intelligence officials to “refuse illegal orders.”
The Democratic lawmakers who released the video—Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Michigan Sen. Alyssa Slotkin, Pennsylvania Rep. Chris Deluzio, New Hampshire Rep. Maggie Goodlander, Pennsylvania Rep. Chrissy Houlahan and Colorado Rep. Jason Crow—served in the military or as intelligence officers.
They did not specify what orders they were talking about. But they said the Trump administration is “pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens” and that threats to the Constitution come “right from here at home.”
The video, released Tuesday, quickly drew criticism from Republicans, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who characterized it as “stage four.” [Trump Derangement Syndrome]” But Trump, who was the first to react to the video on Thursday, saw the video as more than just a partisan speech.
“KRAMOLOV CONDUCT FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM???” Trump said this in another post.
When White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt was asked Thursday whether the president wanted to execute members of Congress, as suggested in one of his social media posts, she said no.
But Leavitt said the president does want them to be “held accountable.”
“This is a very, very dangerous message and probably punishable by law,” Leavitt said. “I will leave that decision to the Department of Justice and the War Department.”
What the law says
Under the federal law known as “sedition conspiracy,” the crime is “a conspiracy between two or more persons to overthrow, suppress, or forcibly destroy the government of the United States” or to “prevent, obstruct, or delay the execution of any law of the United States” by force.
The sedition conspiracy charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Federal courts and legal scholars have long emphasized that sedition charges apply only to coordinated efforts to use force against the government, not political dissent.
Federal prosecutors last brought sedition charges in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers were found guilty of incitement of insurrection and other charges of plotting to stop the violent transfer of presidential power to Joe Biden.
Among those convicted was former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, whose 22-year sentence was the harshest of any Jan. 6 rioter. Trump pardoned him earlier this year.
Hours after the president's post, six Democratic lawmakers issued a joint statement calling on Americans to “unite and condemn the president's calls for our murder and political violence.”
“Most tellingly, the President believes restatement of the law is punishable by death,” the lawmakers said in a statement. sent by X. “Our military members need to know that we stand with them as they fulfill their oath to the Constitution and duty to carry out only lawful orders.”
Democratic leaders in Washington and across the country condemned Trump's post.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said in a statement along with other Democratic leaders that Trump's comments were “disgusting and dangerous death threats against members of Congress.” They added that they were in contact with US Capitol Police to ensure the safety of Democratic lawmakers and their families.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded to the reports by saying Trump is “sick in the head” for calling for the death of Democratic lawmakers.
