House Democratic leaders sounded the alarm Thursday after President Trump suggested that comments made by a group of veteran lawmakers were “punishable by DEATH!”
The escalation pushed party leaders to reach out to the U.S. Capitol Police and the House sergeant-at-arms for security support—an extraordinary step, even in an era where political rhetoric regularly veers off the rails.
Trump’s outburst came after a group of military veterans in Congress released a video urging service members to refuse unlawful orders. That message hit a nerve. On Truth Social, Trump blasted the lawmakers, saying, “This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???” Moments later, he followed with the line that triggered the security scramble: “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”
Democratic leaders didn’t mince words. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar issued a joint statement calling Trump’s remarks exactly what they believe they are: “We unequivocally condemn Donald Trump’s disgusting and dangerous death threats.”
They said they had already contacted House security officials “to ensure the safety of these Members and their families.” And their warning to Trump was blunt: delete the posts, “recant his violent rhetoric before he gets someone killed,” and for Republicans—so far largely silent—to “forcefully” condemn the comments.
The White House didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
The video that sparked the firestorm featured lawmakers with military or national security backgrounds, led by Sen. Elissa Slotkin. The group—Slotkin, Sen. Mark Kelly, and Reps. Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan, and Jason Crow—delivered a simple message. As Slotkin put it, “No one has to carry out orders that violate the law” or the Constitution. They didn’t point to any specific orders, but the implication was clear enough for Trump.
Following Trump’s posts, the lawmakers doubled down in a joint statement, reminding him—and the public—why they spoke up in the first place.
“We … swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation,” they said. And they repeated the closing line from their video, a phrase rooted in naval history and defiance: “Don’t Give Up The Ship!”
The clash over rhetoric, rule of law, and the safety of sitting members of Congress underscores just how volatile the political climate has become. When lawmakers feel compelled to call in Capitol Police because of a president’s social media posts, it’s a sign that the country’s political temperature isn’t cooling anytime soon.
