President Donald Trump unleashed a series of inflammatory posts on Truth Social Thursday morning, accusing six Democratic lawmakers of sedition and suggesting they should face arrest, trial, and potentially the death penalty after they released a video urging military members to refuse illegal orders.

The controversy began when Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin posted a video Tuesday titled “Don’t Give Up the Ship” featuring herself and five other Democratic lawmakers—all veterans or former intelligence officials—speaking directly to members of the military and intelligence community.

On Thursday, Trump posted or reshared 19 times on Truth Social about the Democratic lawmakers. His posts escalated in severity throughout the morning.​

Trump’s initial post shared a Washington Examiner article about the video and stated: “This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???”​

He followed with another post declaring: “It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET.”​

Approximately 40 minutes later, Trump posted a stark five-word message: “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”​

The president also amplified posts from his supporters on Truth Social, including one from user @P78 that stated: “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!”

Trump reposted a total of 16 messages from other Truth Social users, most of which called for the Democrats to be removed from office, arrested, or executed.

The video that provoked Trump’s outrage features six Democratic lawmakers: Senators Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mark Kelly of Arizona, along with Representatives Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania. All six have served in either the military or intelligence community.​

In the approximately 90-second video, the lawmakers addressed military and intelligence personnel directly, stating: “We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now. Americans trust their military, but that trust is at risk. This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens. Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats coming to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad but from right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders,” they added. “No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.”

The video concluded with the phrase “Don’t give up the ship,” a reference to a U.S. Navy captain’s final command during the War of 1812.​

The lawmakers did not cite specific examples of illegal orders in the video itself, though the message came amid Democratic concerns about Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to American cities and military strikes on suspected drug boats in international waters.

During a Thursday afternoon press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied that Trump intended to execute members of Congress when asked directly. “No,” she said, before criticizing the Democratic lawmakers.​

Leavitt claimed the video “perhaps is punishable by law,” but added “I am not a lawyer. I will leave that to the Department of Justice and the Department of War to decide.”​

House Speaker Mike Johnson downplayed Trump’s comments, telling reporters the president “was defining a crime” and making “a factual statement” about sedition. When pressed about Trump’s statement that it was “punishable by death,” Johnson said: “What I read was he was defining the crime of sedition. That is a factual statement. But obviously attorneys have to parse the language and determine all that.”

However, Republican Senator Rand Paul expressed concern about Trump’s rhetoric, warning it could inspire violence. “I don’t think it’s a really — a good idea to talk about jailing your political opponents or hanging them or whatever else,” Paul said. He added: “That kind of rhetoric isn’t good and it stirs up people among us who may not be stable who may think well ‘traitors,’ what do we do with traitors? It’s the death penalty. Maybe I’ll just take matters into my own hands, which is not something we should be encouraging.”

The six lawmakers featured in the video issued a joint statement responding to Trump’s posts: “We are veterans and national security professionals who love this country and swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation. “What’s most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law. Our servicemembers should know that we have their backs as they fulfill their oath to the Constitution and obligation to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our duty. “But this isn’t about any one of us. This isn’t about politics. This is about who we are as Americans. Every American must unite and condemn the President’s calls for our murder and political violence. This is a time for moral clarity. “In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage. We will continue to lead and will not be intimidated. “Don’t Give Up the Ship!”