President's Violent Rhetoric Sparks Bipartisan Alarm
Former President Donald Trump ignited a political firestorm on Thursday by using his Truth Social platform to demand the arrest of Democratic lawmakers, accusing them of "seditious behaviour, punishable by DEATH". The inflammatory posts came after a group of Democratic legislators posted a video urging active service members to refuse illegal orders.
In a series of escalating statements, Trump reposted content suggesting "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!" and declared their words "cannot be allowed to stand". He specifically targeted Representatives Jason Crow, Chris DeLuzio, Maggie Goodlander and Chrissy Houlahan, along with Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, all of whom have military or national security backgrounds.
Democratic Leaders Condemn 'Unhinged' Threats
House Democratic leadership responded swiftly with a joint statement from Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar. They condemned what they described as "disgusting and dangerous death threats" and called on Trump to immediately delete the posts.
"Donald Trump must immediately delete these unhinged social media posts and recant his violent rhetoric before he gets someone killed," the statement emphasised. The Democratic leaders confirmed they had contacted the House sergeant at arms and Capitol Police to ensure the safety of the targeted members and their families.
White House Attempts Damage Control
Later on Thursday, the White House attempted to walk back the president's comments, claiming Trump does not actually want to see Democratic members of Congress executed. This clarification came amid growing concern about the potential for political violence in the United States.
The incident represents one of the most direct threats against political opponents in recent American history and has raised serious questions about the boundaries of political discourse.
Other Key Developments from the Trump Administration
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed he would negotiate with Trump about a US-Russia peace plan that would require Kyiv to make significant concessions. Zelenskyy's office stated they would "work on the points of the plan so that it would bring a worthy end to the war".
In domestic policy, the Trump administration announced controversial new oil and gas drilling off the coasts of California and Florida, setting up potential conflicts with Republicans in the Sunshine State who have traditionally opposed Gulf of Mexico petroleum development.
Additional significant developments included:
- The CDC altered its vaccine safety webpage to reflect Health Secretary RFK Jr's disputed views on vaccines and autism
- A federal judge temporarily blocked Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to Washington DC
- The Justice Department launched an investigation into the handling of the Adam Schiff mortgage fraud case
- New plans to roll back Endangered Species Act protections were unveiled
The Epstein case also saw movement as Republicans warned against burying files related to the investigation, while Elizabeth Warren called for an inquiry into the funding of Trump's White House ballroom.
In a notable snub, neither Trump nor Vice President JD Vance received invitations to former Vice President Dick Cheney's funeral, highlighting ongoing tensions within Republican circles.
