The same day that the administration’s U.S. Coast Guard announced it will no longer classify the swastika — an emblem of fascism and white supremacy inextricably linked to the murder of millions of Jews and the deaths of more than 400,000 U.S. troops who died fighting in World War II — as a hate symbol, President Donald Trump used social media to call for the imprisonment and execution of several Democratic lawmakers, accusing them of “seditious behavior” for urging U.S. troops to refuse illegal orders.
Six Democratic lawmakers—all veterans or former intelligence officials—released a short online video reminding U.S. troops of their duty to disobey illegal orders.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump wrote that the lawmakers’ actions were “really bad, and Dangerous to our Country.” In one post, he called it “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”
The posts targeted six Democratic lawmakers, all military or intelligence veterans, who appeared in a video reminding service members of their oath to the Constitution and their duty to disobey unlawful orders.
Linking to a story by the Washington Examiner that reported on the lawmakers’ comments, Trump accused the Democrats of “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.”
“Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL,” he wrote. “Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET.”
About an hour later, the president posted “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” and he then shared a comment that said “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!”
Members of the military have a duty to disobey orders that are “manifestly unlawful,” such as those that violate the Constitution, U.S. law, or international human rights standards.
While military personnel are required to obey lawful orders, following an illegal order can lead to legal liability and is no defense, as exemplified by the Nuremberg principles.
U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO-06), Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06) released a joint statement declaring that they “will not be intimidated.”
“We are veterans and national security professionals who love this country and swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation,” said the Democratic lawmakers.
“What’s most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law. Our servicemembers should know that we have their backs as they fulfill their oath to the Constitution and obligation to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our duty,” said the six Democrats.
“But this isn’t about any one of us,” they said. “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. This is a time for moral clarity.”
“In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage. We will continue to lead and will not be intimidated,” said the Democratic lawmakers. “Don’t Give Up the Ship!”
House Democratic leaders condemned Trump’s posts as “disgusting and dangerous death threats” and said they contacted Capitol Police to ensure the safety of the members.
“Political violence has no place in America,” they said in a statement.
The Coast Guard will classify the Nazi-era insignia as “potentially divisive” and similarly downgrades the classification of nooses and the Confederate flag, under new guidelines, set to take effect Dec. 15.
Admiral Kevin Lunday, the service’s acting commandant, declined to address why the Coast Guard’s new policy no longer characterizes swastikas, nooses, and the Confederate flag as hate symbols.
Despite several explicit social media posts that suggest the contrary, Trump does not want to execute Democratic members of Congress for “seditious behavior,” according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday.
Leavitt said Trump was not advocating violence but was expressing that the lawmakers’ message was “very dangerous.”
She also threatened that the Justice Department would determine if their actions were punishable by law.
Government watchdog groups are condemning Trump’s comments, which they characterized as an endorsement of political violence against members of Congress who had urged military and intelligence personnel to refuse illegal orders, pushing back against what they called the White House’s politicization of the military.
“A sitting president endorsing death threats toward members of Congress — ones who were following their oaths to the Constitution and encouraging others to do the same — is beyond the pale,” said Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, acting vice president of policy and government affairs at the Project on Government Oversight (POGO).“The ability to disagree, free from the fear of violence, is a bedrock principle of this country.”
He warned that such rhetoric from a high office undermines the rights of all Americans.
“When the highest office in the country calls for political violence against lawmakers, it undermines every American’s right to safety, security, and free speech,” he said. “We have seen time and again the human cost when people in power stoke flames of division.”
Hedtler-Gaudette emphasized the role of Congress in overseeing the executive branch.
“Congress has the right and the responsibility to ask questions when the executive branch is refusing to provide answers,” he said. “Lawmakers must continue to hold the president accountable and push back when the administration abuses its powers.”
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