President Donald Trump called for the execution of six Democratic congressmembers who all previously served in the U.S. military or intelligence community after they released a video encouraging military members to refuse to commit illegal acts under Trumps direction. In response, Trump wrote on social media, SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH! He also republished someones post stating, HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !! Related U.S. ships groundbreaking HIV drug to Africa, but slashed funding threatens progress While Trump is correct that federal convictions for sedition and treason can carry death sentences, the congressmembers video doesnt qualify as a violation of federal sedition and treason laws. We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community.The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.Dont give up the ship. pic.twitter.com/N8lW0EpQ7r Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) November 18, 2025 Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today In response to Trumps social media posts, congressional Democrats demanded that Trump immediately delete the unhinged, disgusting and dangerous death threats against the Democrats and recant his violent rhetoric before he gets someone killed. Critics worry that a Trump supporter could take the presidents words literally and assassinate the Congress members with his approval.Later in the day, Trumps Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied that Trump had called for the Congress members deaths. Instead, she and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) both said it was dangerous for Congress members to encourage active soldiers to defy the military chain of command, and that Trump wants accountability for the legislators video.However, considering that Trump has been authorizing extrajudicial killings of Caribbean fishermen, accusing them of drug smuggling without providing any proof of their alleged crimes, its highly doubtful hes too concerned about the legality of his military commands at all.In a CNN interview Thursday evening, U.S. Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) said, It just tells us everything that we need to know that reminding people to obey the law, reminding people to obey the Constitution, is somehow criminal in Trumpworld and should be responded to with death threats. Its very, very telling.Crow: "It just tells us everything that we need to know that reminding people to obey the law, reminding people to obey the Constitution, is somehow criminal in Trumpworld and should be responded to with death threats. It's very, very telling."[image or embed] Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) November 20, 2025 at 3:26 PMSubscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.