Fury Erupts Over Trump's 'Execution' Demand for Democratic Lawmakers
Former US President Donald Trump has provoked a firestorm of criticism after using his social media platform to call for the execution of several elected Democratic officials. The controversy erupted following a video message from six Democrat lawmakers, all with military or intelligence backgrounds, urging service members to refuse illegal orders.
The Provocative Video and Trump's Explosive Response
The 90-second video featured Senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly, alongside Representatives Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan and Jason Crow. These officials, drawing on their service experience, emphasised: "Our laws are clear, you can refuse illegal orders, you must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our constitution."
This prompted an immediate and furious reaction from Trump on Thursday morning. On Truth Social, he declared their actions constituted "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL" and demanded each should be "ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL." In subsequent posts, he escalated his language dramatically, stating this behaviour was "punishable by DEATH!" and reposting a statement that read: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"
Bipartisan Backlash and Political Fallout
The response from political leaders was swift and severe. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the remarks unequivocally, posting on X: "Let's be crystal clear: the President of the United States is calling for the execution of elected officials." He described it as an outright threat demanding immediate condemnation from all Americans regardless of party affiliation.
House Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar issued a joint statement denouncing what they called "disgusting and dangerous death threats." They praised the targeted lawmakers for their patriotic service and called on House Republicans to join them in forceful condemnation.
However, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson offered a different perspective, defending Trump's characterisation of the Democrats' actions as sedition. Johnson described the original video as "wildly inappropriate" and "very dangerous," arguing that it was unprecedented for members of Congress to advise troops to disobey orders.
Broader Political Context and Other Developments
The incident occurs amidst other significant political developments. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed he would negotiate with Trump about a US-backed peace plan requiring painful concessions from Kyiv. Meanwhile, the Trump administration announced new oil and gas drilling off the coasts of California and Florida, setting up potential conflicts with state Republicans.
In public health, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website was altered to reflect Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr's disputed view linking vaccines to autism, drawing criticism from health experts. Additionally, a Biden-appointed judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops in Washington DC without mayoral approval.
The Justice Department is also investigating how two Trump allies handled the probe into whether California Senator Adam Schiff committed mortgage fraud, representing a notable development as the department examines activities of the president's close associates.
