President Donald Trump called for the execution of six Democratic congressmembers who all previously served in the U.S. military or intelligence community after they released a video encouraging military members to refuse to commit illegal acts under Trump’s direction.

In response, Trump wrote on social media, “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” He also republished someone’s post stating, “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!”

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While Trump is correct that federal convictions for sedition and treason can carry death sentences, the congressmembers’ video doesn’t qualify as a violation of federal sedition and treason laws.

We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community.

The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.

Don’t give up the ship. pic.twitter.com/N8lW0EpQ7r

— Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) November 18, 2025

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In response to Trump’s social media posts, congressional Democrats demanded that Trump “immediately delete” the “unhinged,” “disgusting and dangerous death threats” against the Democrats “and recant his violent rhetoric before he gets someone killed.” Critics worry that a Trump supporter could take the president’s words literally and assassinate the Congress members with his approval.

Later in the day, Trump’s Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied that Trump had called for the Congress members’ deaths. Instead, she and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) both said it was dangerous for Congress members to encourage active soldiers to defy the military chain of command, and that Trump wants accountability for the legislators’ video.

However, considering that Trump has been authorizing extrajudicial killings of Caribbean fishermen, accusing them of drug smuggling without providing any proof of their alleged crimes, it’s highly doubtful he’s too concerned about the legality of his military commands at all.

In a CNN interview Thursday evening, U.S. Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) said, “It just tells us everything that we need to know that reminding people to obey the law, reminding people to obey the Constitution, is somehow criminal in Trumpworld and should be responded to with death threats. It’s very, very telling.”

Crow: "It just tells us everything that we need to know that reminding people to obey the law, reminding people to obey the Constitution, is somehow criminal in Trumpworld and should be responded to with death threats. It's very, very telling."

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) November 20, 2025 at 3:26 PM

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