US President Donald Trump has invoked the death penalty for Democratic lawmakers who advised military personnel to reject unlawful orders. He labeled them traitors and accused them of engaging in sedition. Trump issued the warnings on Thursday in a series of posts on Truth Social. He claimed their statements posed a grave threat to national stability. He insisted that their comments could not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Trump wrote that their behavior qualified as seditious. He added that such conduct should be punishable by death. He reposted a message from a supporter who urged him to hang the lawmakers. He said George Washington would have taken similar action in such a situation. His remarks ignited widespread debate across political and legal circles.
Lawmakers defend their warning
The Democratic group released a video on X on Tuesday. They urged military personnel to refuse illegal orders. They did not specify which orders prompted their warning. However, Trump’s tenure has faced scrutiny over the use of US forces both domestically and internationally. The lawmakers included Senator Mark Kelly and Senator Elissa Slotkin. Kelly previously served in the Navy and flew with NASA. Slotkin worked in Iraq with the CIA.
The six lawmakers accused the Trump administration of pitting security agencies against citizens. They warned that constitutional threats were emerging within the United States. They emphasized that service members could legally reject unlawful commands. Their message intensified political tensions already gripping Washington.
Critics highlight legal concerns
Trump has deployed the National Guard to numerous US cities during periods of unrest. Many local officials opposed the deployments. Abroad, his administration ordered strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels. The strikes killed more than 80 people since early September. Experts argue that these operations violate international law. They describe the actions as extrajudicial killings.
A group of more than 300 former national security officials responded on Thursday. They called themselves the Steady State. They expressed strong support for the six Democratic lawmakers. They insisted that refusing unlawful orders was a bedrock principle of US military conduct. They stressed that the principle was neither partisan nor controversial.
White House responds sharply
The White House condemned the Democrats’ message on Wednesday. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth also criticized their warning. He labeled it Stage 4 TDS. He used the term to mock critics of the president. Trump previously referenced the death penalty in 2023 when attacking former military chief Mark Milley. Trump argued that Milley’s actions after the January 2021 Capitol riot merited the death penalty.
