President Trump has called for the arrest and execution of six Democratic lawmakers for "sedition" after they urged troops to refuse unlawful orders.
Sseema Giill
On November 20, Trump posted on Truth Social that the lawmakers and all military veterans or former intelligence officials were guilty of "seditious behavior, punishable by DEATH" for releasing a video urging U.S. troops to refuse unlawful orders and within 24 hours, Senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly were placed under 24/7 Capitol Police protection after receiving hundreds of death threats, marking a dangerous new phase in American political violence.
On 18th of November, the six Democratic lawmakers published a 90-second video directed at military service members reminding them of their sworn allegiance to the Constitution, and their responsibility to refuse illegal orders. The video was a direct response to concerns the Trump administration would use the military against domestic political adversaries. Trump reacted instantly and violently, labeling the lawmakers “traitors” and resharing on social media from some of his supporters that they should be “hanged,” converting a policy discussion into an explicit threat to life.
While most outlets are reporting this as a "war of words" or "escalating rhetoric," the deeper story is about the normalization of state-sanctioned political violence. This isn't just a threat; it's a signal stating that, by explicitly linking political dissent to capital punishment, the President is effectively greenlighting violence by his supporters which is a tactic known as "stochastic terrorism and " The silence from most Republican leaders suggests a partisan acceptance of this new reality, where calling for the death of colleagues is no longer a disqualifying act but a political strategy.
This incident will push the U.S. closer to a possible constitutional breakdown and if a sitting President can threaten Congress members with execution without facing immediate censure or consequence, the separation of powers is effectively nullified by the threat of violence. The immediate impact is a chilling effect that lawmakers may now fear are challenging the executive branch could cost them their lives. Long-term, it sets a precedent that political opposition is tantamount to treason, a hallmark of authoritarian regimes.
If the penalty for reminding soldiers of their constitutional oath is death, what is the penalty for actually defending the Constitution?
What exactly did Trump say about the Democratic lawmakers? Trump posted on Truth Social that the six lawmakers were guilty of "seditious behavior," which he stated is "punishable by DEATH." He also called for them to be "arrested and put on trial" and reshared posts from supporters suggesting they should be hanged.
Why did the Democratic lawmakers release the video? The lawmakers, all military veterans or former intelligence officials, released the video to remind U.S. troops of their oath to the Constitution and their duty to refuse unlawful orders. This was in response to concerns that the Trump administration might use the military for domestic political purposes.
Are the threatened lawmakers in danger? Yes. Senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly reported receiving hundreds of death threats within 24 hours of Trump's posts. They have been placed under 24/7 protection by the Capitol Police.
How have Republicans responded to Trump's threats? Most Republican leaders have remained silent. House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump, arguing he was simply "defining a crime" rather than inciting violence.
Who are the lawmakers Trump threatened? The six lawmakers are Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA).
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