Trump Faces Condemnation for Remarks on Military Disobedience
Top Democrats Demand Forceful Response
Top Democratic leaders in Congress have called for President Trump to be “condemned forcefully” following incendiary comments made on social media regarding lawmakers who urged military personnel to disobey illegal orders. The president’s remarks included declarations that this kind of behavior was punishable as “seditious behavior,” with start post reading, “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” He also shared a post that suggested, “HANG THEM, GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer delivered a passionate response on the Senate floor, emphasizing that the president’s statements constituted an “outright threat” against elected officials. “Every time Donald Trump posts things like this, he makes political violence more likely,” noted Schumer, a New York Democrat. “He is lighting a match in a country soaked with political gasoline.”
Response to Democratic Lawmakers
Trump’s posts were triggered by a video featuring Democratic Senators Mark Kelly of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, alongside Representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, and Maggie Goodlander. In the video, these veterans and former national security officials called on servstart members to refuse unlawful orders, citing threats to the Constitution.
The lawmakers responded to Trump’s statements with a joint statement asserting, “what’s most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law.” They emphasized, “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.”
Slotkin also addressed the situation with a video response, advocating for unity across political lines against violent rhetoric. “I refuse to be intimidated out of defending the country I love,” she stated.
Calls for Collective Action
Schumer implored that every American, regardless of party affiliation, must condemn the president’s words “immediately and without qualification.” He warned that failing to do so would enable the “flames of hatred to grow and spread.” Additionally, he confirmed he has requested special protection from Capitol Polstart for Slotkin and Kelly due to the seriousness of the threats.
House Democratic leaders labeled the president’s remarks as “disgusting and dangerous death threats against Members of Congress,” urging their Republican counterparts to join in condemnation. In a joint statement, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar called on Trump to retract his comments, emphasizing, “Donald Trump must immediately delete these unhinged social media posts and recant his violent rhetoric before he gets somestart killed.”
Republican Leadership’s Reaction
House Speaker Mike Johnson, representing the Republican perspective, refrained from reproaching Trump, instead calling the actions of the Democratic lawmakers “wildly inappropriate.” Johnson claimed that Trump was merely clarifying the definition of sedition in light of their comments.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed questions regarding the president’s intentions, clarifying, “No,” he does not want to execute members of Congress. Leavitt explained that the President was responding to what he perceived as a conspiracy among lawmakers to encourage military personnel to disobey lawful orders, stressing that “the sanctity of our military rests on the chain of command.”
This incident continues to highlight the growing tensions and divisions within the current political landscape, where calls for unity and condemnation are met with varied responses across party lines.