Trump Suggests Death Penalty for Democrats Urging Military to Reject Illegal Orders

United States President Donald Trump has escalated his attacks on political opponents, suggesting that a group of Democratic lawmakers could face sedition charges — and even the death penalty — for urging military and intelligence personnel to refuse unlawful commands.

The president’s remarks appeared Thursday on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he accused six Democratic members of Congress of “seditious behavior” after they released a video reminding service members of their legal obligation to reject illegal orders.

“This is really bad, and dangerous to our country,” Trump wrote, calling the lawmakers “traitors” before adding in a separate post: “Seditious behavior, punishable by death!”Democrats swiftly condemned the president’s comments as inflammatory and “absolutely vile.

”The video that provoked Trump’s reaction featured a group of Democratic lawmakers — all veterans of the military or intelligence community — including Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, alongside Representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander and Chrissy Houlahan.

In it, they urged service members to uphold their constitutional duties amid rising political tensions.“You must refuse illegal orders,” the lawmakers said, pointing to long-standing military law establishing that commands violating the Constitution or federal statutes must not be followed.

They stressed that refusing such orders is not insubordination, but an obligation.Their message touched on historical precedent, including a 1969 military court ruling that soldiers cannot rely on the defense of following “patently illegal” orders.But Trump allies quickly framed the video as an act of political defiance.

Stephen Miller, the president’s homeland security adviser, accused Democrats of “calling for insurrection.” Slotkin rejected that claim, arguing that the lawmakers were merely reiterating rules enshrined in military justice.

Crow, a former Army Ranger, pointed to Trump’s recent deployment of troops for domestic policing and a controversial bombing campaign against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific as examples of potentially unlawful actions.

That operation, which has left at least 83 people dead, has drawn condemnation from international human rights experts, including the United Nations.At a White House briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration, saying all military directives issued by Trump were lawful.

She accused Democrats of encouraging dangerous dissent within the armed forces.Thursday’s escalation adds to a long history of Trump directing threats at political rivals.

Since his first presidential campaign in 2016 — when “Lock her up!” became a staple chant against Hillary Clinton — Trump has repeatedly floated imprisonment or harsh punishment for opponents, critics, and even members of his own party.

In recent months, several prominent figures who have challenged the president — including former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James and former national security adviser John Bolton — have faced criminal indictments they describe as political retaliation.

Trump has often warned of “enemies from within,” a phrase he used again last month in an address to senior military leaders, telling them that internal threats would be their “big thing” to confront moving forward.