Trump says he didn’t make ‘death threats’ to Democrats for showing video to troops

US President Donald Trump sought to clarify that he “did not threaten death” as Democratic lawmakers released a video urging military personnel to refuse illegal orders.

His remarks to Fox News on Friday came after bipartisan condemnation of earlier social media posts by Trump accusing Democrats of “incitement punishable by death.”

The six lawmakers, all of whom served in the military or intelligence community, called Trump’s comments dangerous and said they amounted to threats against elected officials.

The row comes amid a rise in violence against politicians in the United States, raising concerns about politically motivated attacks.

“Lock them up???” he asked in a post on his social media platform “Truth Social” on Thursday, before sharing someone else’s post that read: “George Washington will hang them!!”

“I’m not threatening death, but I think they’re in serious trouble,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News Radio on Friday after his social media post.

“If you look at incitement of insurrection,” Trump continued, “it’s a very strong form of treason. I have to tell you, that’s a terrible thing to say.”

Trump also suggested that the U.S. Secretary of Defense and the U.S. Deputy Attorney General were investigating the matter.

Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin shared this video of Democrats, including Sen. Mark Kelly and Reps. Chris DeLuzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houulahan and Jason Crow.

“Our laws are clear. You can refuse an unlawful order,” Kelly, who served in the Navy and served as an astronaut, said in the article.

“This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens,” the video said.

“Like us, you all took an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Now, the threats to our Constitution come not just from abroad, but from here at home.”

Trump responded to the video in a series of angry “Truth Society” posts on Thursday, accusing lawmakers of “incitement of the highest order.”

“Each and every one of these traitors to our country should be arrested and brought to trial. Their word does not stand,” he wrote. “You have to set an example.”

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said “the words the president chose are not words I would use” and defended Trump, saying he was merely “defining incitement of insurrection.”

Johnson called the Democrats’ video “extremely inappropriate” and “very dangerous.”

Asked on Friday whether Trump had any responsibility for moderating hostilities in American politics, Johnson said: “I don’t think you can blame the president for anything, the rhetoric has been fiery.”

“What they are essentially saying to the 1.3 million active-duty service members is to disobey the chain of command and not follow lawful orders,” Levitt added. “This may be punishable by law.”

“No threats, intimidation or resort to violence will prevent us from fulfilling this sacred obligation,” six Democratic lawmakers said in a joint statement.

Since World War II, many members of the U.S. military have accepted a “duty of insubordination” – refusing to carry out illegal orders – and the idea is being discussed more in the civilian sphere as Trump faces legal challenges to deploying National Guard troops to U.S. cities.

According to the U.S. military’s judicial code, members of the armed forces can refuse to comply with “manifestly unlawful orders, such as orders directing a crime” or orders that violate the U.S. Constitution, which service members are required to take an oath to abide by when joining the military..

Leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives said they were working with Capitol Police to fully protect lawmakers and their families who angered Trump.

Responding to Trump’s “Truth Society” post, Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune said: “I disagree with that,” but called Democrats’ message to the military “unnecessary” and “provocative.”

U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on X: “Donald Trump has made political violence a feature of his politics. No president has encouraged violence as much as this president.”

Most Americans believe political violence is increasing, regardless of party affiliation.

An October Pew Research Center study found that 85% of Americans believe politically motivated violence is increasing, a trend echoed in a November Politico and Public First poll.

Trump himself has been the target of two assassination attempts, including one at a rally during last year’s presidential campaign that left one person dead and Trump and several others injured.

Just this year, there have been a number of high-profile incidents, including the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, an arson attack on the home of Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and the killings of a Minnesota Democratic congressman and her husband.

After Kirk’s murder, many conservatives, including Trump, spoke out against Democrats, holding them responsible for growing political violence in the United States.

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene recently said she has received an increase in threats since her public disagreements with Trump over some of his policies. Their feud came to a head last week when Trump repeatedly posted about her, calling her “weird” and a “traitor.” Her son also received death threats, according to local police.

In recent months, a growing number of public officials have reported prank calls to emergency services in attempts to deploy SWAT teams.

They include an Indiana Republican who has become the focus of another “Truth Society” attack by the president over his stance on redistricting in the state.

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