Donald Trump has unleashed a flurry of social media posts in which he suggested Democratic lawmakers calling for United States troops to “refuse illegal orders” could face the death penalty.
In the volcanic posts shared to Truth Social, the US president slammed the move from his political opponents as “seditious behaviour” that was “punishable by death”.
On Tuesday, a group of Democrats published a video in which they claimed the Trump administration was pitting the armed forces against the American people, without naming any specific examples.
“Americans trust their military, but that trust is at risk,” the party said in the video.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
“This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country,” Mr Trump penned in a second message reacting to the video.
In a third post, he fumed: “Their words cannot be allowed to stand. Seditious behaviour from traitors!!! Lock them up!!!”
“It’s called seditious behaviour at the highest level. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be arrested and put on trial,” Mr Trump said in a fourth post.
“Their words cannot be allowed to stand. We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example must be set."
Donald Trump has unleashed a flurry of furious Truth Social posts suggesting his opponents could face the death penalty
|GETTY
As well as projecting his own fury, Mr Trump also shared dozens of explosive messages from his supporters.
They echoed Mr Trump’s anger as they slammed the prominent Democrats as “traitors”.
In one repost, one fan called on Mr Trump to “hang them” as “George Washington would”.
Another fumed: “Get these people out of office!! They aren’t doing their jobs, they are looking for ways to be rebels, and take others with them. They need to go!!!”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
The video saw Democrats call on US servicemen to refuse 'illegal orders'
|DEMOCRATS
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stressed Mr Trump was not inciting violence, instead pointing the finger at the Democratic lawmakers for increasing tensions.
“They are literally saying to 1.3 million active duty service members to defy the chain of command, not to follow lawful orders,” she told reporters on Thursday.
The video featured Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona and Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan alongside Representatives Chrissy Houlahan, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander and Jason Crow.
“You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution,” they said in their collective statement.
“We know this is hard, and that it’s is a difficult time to be a public servant.
“But whether you’re serving in the CIA, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, your vigilance is critical. And know that we have your back,” the Democrats assured.
They concluded their message with the creedo “don’t give up the ship”, a reference to the dying words of a 19th-century US Navy captain.
While the lawmakers did not identify any specific unconstitutional orders, it was likely referring to Mr Trump’s recent deployment of US military power.
President Trump has deployed the US in multiple uncoventional ways recently
|REUTERS
This includes the aerial campaign against drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean, which some, including the British government, argued was legally dubious, as well as the looming naval presence around Venezuela.
Mr Trump has also deployed National Guard troops in several cities, including Washington DC, to quell rampant crime and disorder.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
More From GB News