President Donald Trump has accused six Democratic lawmakers of “seditious behaviour” for telling U.S. servicemembers they may refuse illegal orders, prompting concerns from Democrats about potential incitement.
Trump levelled the accusation on Thursday after reposting an article about a video released on Tuesday by six Democratic legislators with military or intelligence backgrounds.
In a Truth Social post, he wrote: “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”, calling their message “Dangerous to our Country.”
The Democrats’ video urges members of the U.S. military and intelligence community to uphold the Constitution and decline any unlawful commands. Senator Mark Kelly said in the recording, “Our laws are clear: You can refuse illegal orders,” while Senator Elissa Slotkin concluded, “We need you to stand up for our laws, our Constitution.”
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday (20 November) that Trump does not want lawmakers executed, but she criticised the Democrats for encouraging troops to “defy the chain of command.”
Trump made his comments after renewed scrutiny of his rhetoric since returning to the presidency in January, during which he has pressed for punitive action against several critics, including former officials John Bolton and James Comey.
Slotkin said on X that no “threat, intimidation, or call for violence” would stop her from defending the Constitution. Top Democratic figures, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, said Trump’s language risked provoking violence, with Schumer warning in the chamber that the president was “lighting a match soaked with gasoline.”
Republican reaction was mixed. Several senators declined to comment, while Senator Tim Sheehy said simply, “That’s his opinion.”
Senator Lindsey Graham said he “hated” the Democrats’ video but described Trump’s response as “over the top.”
The dispute comes amid Democratic criticism of Trump’s recent military actions against suspected drug traffickers in the southern Caribbean and the Pacific, and concerns over a possible strike on Venezuela. Democrats have also opposed Trump’s efforts to use National Guard units in domestic immigration operations.
Under U.S. law, civilians cannot be charged with sedition, though “seditious conspiracy” carries a maximum 20-year sentence. The Uniform Code of Military Justice contains a sedition provision for troops that can include the death penalty.
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