White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that President Trump does not actually want to see members of Congress executed, responding to his social media activity earlier in the day after a video by several Democratic lawmakers urged service members and intelligence personnel to refuse illegal orders.
The video, posted by Reps. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Chris DeLuzio (D-Pa.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), along with Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), addresses military and intelligence audiences and repeats, “You can refuse illegal orders,” adding, “You must refuse illegal orders.” The lawmakers, many with military backgrounds, said the administration is “pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens” and warned that threats to the Constitution can come from inside the country as well as abroad.
Leavitt told reporters that the lawmakers’ remarks amounted to “seditious behavior, punishable by DEATH!” and warned that breaking the chain of command can lead to chaos and death. When asked directly whether the president wanted members of Congress executed, she replied, “No.”
President Trump reposted the lawmakers’ video on his Truth Social site and also reshared several user comments calling for the Democrats to be hanged, labeling the video an insurrection and urging indictments. The lawmakers’ video did not cite specific orders it alleged were illegal; it emphasized that military and intelligence personnel swear an oath to defend the Constitution and should not follow orders that violate law or the Constitution. It closed by exhorting service members and intelligence professionals, “Don’t give up the ship,” a reference to Navy Capt. James Lawrence.
In a joint statement responding to Trump’s posts, the lawmakers said they are veterans and national security professionals who swore an oath to protect the Constitution and will keep it. They called for unity in condemning the president’s “calls for our murder and political violence” and said no threats or intimidation will deter them.
House Democratic leaders — Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar — demanded that Trump remove his posts and urged House Republicans to condemn them. They said they have contacted the House Sergeant at Arms and U.S. Capitol Police to ensure the safety of the members and their families. Trump has not deleted the posts.