Updated November 20, 2025 at 5:28 PM EST
In a contentious exchange of words, President Trump has come under fire following a social media post where he labeled a video by several Democratic lawmakers as “seditious behavior, punishable by DEATH!” Despite the fiery rhetoric, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified on Thursday that the President does not wish to see lawmakers executed.
The video in question, created by Reps. Jason Crow, D-Colo., Chris DeLuzio, D-Pa., Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H., and Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., along with Sens. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., urges military and intelligence personnel to refuse illegal orders. The lawmakers, all veterans themselves, state, “You can refuse illegal orders,” emphasizing their point with the repetition of the phrase, “You must refuse illegal orders.”
The video, shared on Facebook, warns of internal threats to the Constitution, asserting that the current administration is pitting military and intelligence professionals against American citizens.
When asked if the President truly desires the execution of Congress members, Leavitt firmly responded: “No.” She further explained, “The sanctity of our military rests on the chain of command, and if that chain of command is broken, it can lead to people getting killed. It can lead to chaos, and that’s what these members of Congress who swore an oath to abide by the Constitution are essentially encouraging.”
President Trump also engaged with supportive comments on Truth Social, which echoed sentiments of hanging the Democrats and labeling their actions as insurrection. These posts have not been removed despite the backlash.
The lawmakers’ video did not specify any particular illegal actions ordered by the Trump administration. However, they reiterated the oath taken by military and intelligence personnel to protect and defend the Constitution. They emphasized, “Right now the threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but right here at home,” and urged, “No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.”
Concluding their message with a historic reference, they encouraged military and intelligence officials with the words, “Don’t give up the ship,” a nod to Navy Captain James Lawrence’s command during the War of 1812.
In response to Trump’s posts, the Democratic lawmakers issued a joint statement asserting their commitment to their oath, “We are veterans and national security professionals who love this country and swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation.” They called for unity against the President’s violent rhetoric, stating, “Every American must unite and condemn the President’s calls for our murder and political violence. This is a time for moral clarity.”
House Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, whip Katherine Clark, and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, demanded Trump remove his posts and urged Republicans to denounce them. “We unequivocally condemn Donald Trump’s disgusting and dangerous death threats against Members of Congress and call on House Republicans to forcefully do the same,” they declared. They also assured that measures are in place to ensure the safety of the lawmakers and their families, adding, “Donald Trump must immediately delete these unhinged social media posts and recant his violent rhetoric before he gets someone killed.” However, the posts remain online.
Copyright 2025 NPR
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