President Donald Trump on Thursday accused a group of Democratic lawmakers of “seditious behavior” after they released a video urging U.S. military and intelligence personnel to refuse any illegal orders from the administration.
Trump escalated the rhetoric on Truth Social, calling the lawmakers “traitors,” demanding they be arrested, and saying their actions were “punishable by death.” He also reposted a user who wrote, “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!”
🚨 Trump just put the DEATH PENALTY on the table for Democrats telling troops to disobey him.
— Breaking News (@TheNewsTrending) November 20, 2025
Their crime?
A video saying “reject illegal orders.”
His words: “SEDITION. DEATH.”
The party of “threat to democracy” just got threatened back.
Hard. pic.twitter.com/Vz79HywfwP
The six Democratic members of Congress, all with military or intelligence backgrounds, said in their video that service members are not obligated to obey unlawful commands and vowed to support them. They did not cite any specific orders they believed were illegal.
The Justice Department is reviewing the lawmakers’ statements. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche called their message “disgusting and inappropriate,” signaling that the administration may pursue further action against them.
