U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded the arrest of six Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a recent video advising military personnel to disregard illegal commands, a move that has intensified political tensions in Washington.
Trump issued the directive late Saturday on his Truth Social platform, insisting that the lawmakers should already be in custody. The statement followed his earlier accusation on Friday in which he labeled their action as sedition — a crime he noted could carry the death penalty.
The Democrats involved had swiftly condemned Trump’s remarks, describing them as reckless and dangerous. All six lawmakers have backgrounds in either the military or the intelligence community, a point they emphasized while defending their stance.
In his latest message, Trump accused the lawmakers of attempting to justify their actions on media platforms, writing that their behavior amounted to “sedition at the highest level.” He insisted there was no alternative interpretation of their statement urging military officers to disobey unlawful commands.
The controversial video, released on social media Friday, featured Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, Michigan’s Elissa Slotkin, Colorado representative Jason Crow, Pennsylvania lawmakers Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, and New Hampshire senator Maggie Hassan. Although the group did not specify which orders they were referencing, the message came amid Trump’s deployment of National Guard units to several U.S. cities, sometimes without approval from local authorities.
The former president has also recently authorized lethal strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. The operations, which have resulted in more than 80 deaths, have drawn criticism from experts who argue the actions violate legal boundaries.
Trump’s comments invoking potential capital punishment are not new; he has previously hinted at such measures in discussions relating to national security.
The situation has also revived earlier revelations from 2023, when retired U.S. military official Mark Milley disclosed that he contacted a Chinese counterpart after the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot to assure Beijing that the United States remained stable and had no intention of initiating conflict.