2:25Democratic veterans — including Sens. Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly — said in a video that military service members can refuse illegal orders.@SenatorSlotkin/X
President Donald Trump on Thursday labeled several Democratic veterans and experts in national security as "traitors" who ought to suffer the ultimate penalty for disseminating a joint video wherein they asserted that members of the U.S. armed forces have the right to decline unlawful directives — an action that has led some legislators to characterize the president’s words as "perilous" and "a menace."
"This is truly awful, and a Hazard to our Nation. Their pronouncements cannot be permitted to endure. TREASONOUS CONDUCT FROM TRAITORS!!! IMPRISON THEM???," Trump posted on social media Thursday morning.
President Donald Trump meets Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House, Nov. 18, 2025, in Washington.Win McNamee/Getty Images
Trump also shared again a social media communication reacting to the Washington Examiner's piece regarding the Democrats, advocating that they should be executed.
In a separate communication, the president stated "TREASONOUS CONDUCT, punishable by DEATH!"
In the video aimed toward those in the military, Democrats — featuring Sens. Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly — conveyed that military personnel possess the right to refuse illicit mandates.
"This government is setting our uniformed military and intelligence community experts against American citizens," the congressional Democrats asserted in the video released Tuesday.
Democratic veterans — including Sens. Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly — said in a video that military service members can refuse illegal orders.@SenatorSlotkin/X
"The perils to our Constitution aren't solely originating from overseas, but from directly here within our borders. Our statutes are unequivocal. You are able to deny unlawful commands," the group went on to say. "Nobody is obligated to enact commands that contravene the law or our Constitution."
None of the Democrats cited any particular unlawful orders given to service members. It is uncertain if service members have been instructed to violate the law.
ABC News has requested that these legislators offer clarification regarding the orders in question.
The wording in the video mirrors what is expressed in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which stipulates that service members must abide by legitimate orders, yet can face prosecution for adhering to illegitimate orders.
The Democrats who were present in the video issued a joint declaration Thursday following Trump’s remarks.
"What is most revealing is that the President believes it is worthy of capital punishment for us to reiterate the law. Our servicemembers ought to recognize that we support them as they uphold their oath to the Constitution and their obligation to only follow lawful commands. It is not only the correct action to undertake, but additionally our duty," the Democrats articulated in the declaration.
"However, this isn’t concerning any individual among us. This isn’t concerning politics. This is concerning our identity as Americans. Every American must come together and denounce the President’s appeals for our assassination and political aggression. This necessitates moral certitude."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a press briefing at the White House in Washington, November 20, 2025.Evan Vucci/AP
When inquired if Trump wishes to execute members of Congress, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed that the president does not — adding that the Democrats in the video are "encouraging [service members] to flout the president’s lawful commands."
"Let's be explicit about what the president is responding to, because many within this room desire to discuss the president's response but not what prompted the president to react in this fashion. You possess sitting members of the United States Congress who conspired in conjunction to organize a video message to members of the United States military to active-duty service members, to members of the national security apparatus, urging them to disobey the president's lawful commands," Leavitt declared during Thursday’s press conference.
While the president has alluded that such conduct by Democrats could be punishable by death, Leavitt mentioned that it may be "punishable by law." She stated the Democrats "understood precisely what they were undertaking" with their communication.
"To indicate to individuals serving under this commander in chief, Donald Trump, that you have the option to defy him and betray your sworn oath, that is a considerably, considerably dangerous message. And it possibly is punishable by law. I'm not an attorney. I'll entrust that to the Department of Justice and the Department of War for determination."
Some Republicans express that Trump went excessively far; Democrats criticize his pronouncements
Republicans on Capitol Hill aren’t keen to disagree with the president. Nonetheless, several communicated to ABC News that the president’s utterances went beyond acceptable boundaries.
GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, a steadfast advocate of the president, stated that he dissents with the president on the subject despite perceiving the video issued by Democrats as being “despicable.”
"I consider that what they executed was despicable. I don’t concur with the president [that] they should be incarcerated, but I genuinely believe what they enacted was despicable and they are in need of justifying their actions," Graham informed ABC News Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott.
Republican Sen. Jim Justice expressed that politicians ought to be "engaging in dialogue with one another, respecting each other."
Democrats on Capitol Hill are conveying apprehension regarding their well-being and the well-being of their colleagues following Trump’s posts.
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy informed ABC News’ Scott that Trump’s rhetoric is “exceptional” and “places all of our lives in peril."
Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated that Trump’s rhetoric in his social media posts "renders political aggression more probable" and urged that Trump be condemned for his posts.
"Let’s be utterly explicit, the president of the United States is advocating for the execution of elected representatives. This is a menace, and it is gravely serious," Schumer expressed on the Senate floor Thursday. "We have already witnessed the repercussions when Donald Trump communicates to his adherents that his political rivals are enemies of the state. On each occasion that Donald Trump posts sentiments such as these, he makes political aggression more probable."
Sen. Chuck Schumer leaves a press conference regarding new SNAP legislation at the US Capitol in Washington, November 20, 2025.Allison Robbert/EPA/Shutterstock
Schumer articulated that Trump’s rhetoric could present danger in a politically charged atmosphere.
"He is igniting a flame in a country saturated with political fuel, every senator, every representative, every American, irrespective of party affiliation, should denounce this instantly, without reservation, because if we fail to establish a boundary here, there remains no boundary to establish," Schumer articulated.
Schumer communicated to reporters that he has requested additional Capitol Police safeguarding for Sens. Slotkin and Kelly, who were highlighted in the video.
Republican Sen. Rand Paul additionally stated that rhetoric of this nature could be hazardous.
"I don’t believe it’s truly — a sound notion to deliberate incarcerating your political adversaries or executing them or whatever else. I believe we possess political disagreements and we are obligated to resolve them in a political manner," Paul stated.
Paul cautioned that the rhetoric in Trump’s posts could galvanize violence.
"That style of rhetoric isn’t beneficial and it agitates individuals amidst us who might not be stable who might contemplate well 'traitors,' what is our course of action with traitors? It’s the ultimate penalty. Perhaps I’ll simply take matters into my own hands, which is not something we should be promoting," Paul stated.
House Democratic leaders on Thursday disseminated a joint statement condemning Trump’s posts on social media, calling on him to erase them "before he gets someone killed."
"We unequivocally denounce Donald Trump’s repulsive and perilous death threats directed towards Members of Congress and summon House Republicans to forcefully emulate suit," conveyed the statement signed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar.
House Speaker Mike Johnson downplayed Trump’s social media remarks, informing ABC News’ Rachel Scott, "The terms that the president selected are not the ones that I would employ. OK, manifestly I don’t contemplate that these are — these are offenses punishable by death or any element of that."
Johnson communicated to reporters that the president did not issue a summons to incite aggression.
"He’s defining a transgression," Johnson expressed. "He, I'm certain, acknowledges that the attorneys must resolve all of that."
A reporter pressed the speaker regarding Trump’s statement contending it was punishable by death.
"What I perused was he was defining the transgression of sedition," Johnson expressed. "That is a factual declaration. Though evidently attorneys are obligated to scrutinize the language and ascertain all of that."
Johnson criticized the Democrats implicated in the video, deeming it a "wildly inappropriate action for so-called leaders in Congress to undertake to stimulate young troops to disobey commands."
Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Marine combat veteran, assailed Trump’s remarks, conveying to ABC News that the president "doesn’t comprehend the military."
"He envisions the military as one of his personal diminutive play objects," Gallego voiced, who was not present in the Democrats’ video. "He, for an unspecified rationale, believes that men and women upholding their sworn commitment is a contradiction to him as commander in chief — which, once more, tells you he doesn’t truly comprehend his function."
ABC News’ Mary Bruce, Michelle Stoddart, Justin Gomez, Anne Flaherty, Devin Dwyer, Isabella Murray and Benjamin Siegel contributed to this report.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
