TLDR:
- President Trump called for the arrest and trial of six Democratic lawmakers, suggesting sedition is “punishable by DEATH”
- The Democrats, all veterans, posted a video urging troops to refuse illegal orders under military code
- Trump labeled their reminder about military law as “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL”
- Sen. Coons compared Trump’s threats to authoritarian leaders Putin and Orban
President Trump escalated his rhetoric against Democratic lawmakers Thursday, demanding their arrest and suggesting capital punishment after they posted a video reminding military members they can refuse illegal orders.
“It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL,” Mr. Trump wrote on social media. In a subsequent post, he added: “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”
The video targeted by Mr. Trump featured Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and four House members, all with military or intelligence backgrounds. Titled “Don’t Give Up the Ship,” the lawmakers took turns delivering a straightforward message: “Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. … You must refuse illegal orders.”
The Democrats said the Trump administration “is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens” and pointed to military code requiring service members to disobey unlawful orders.
Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware slammed the president’s response as “chilling behavior we should expect from authoritarians like Orban or Putin, not the President of the United States.” Mr. Coons challenged Republican colleagues to condemn calls for executing lawmakers.
Read more:
• Trump slams Democratic lawmakers for telling military to ’refuse illegal orders’
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The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
