Trump backtracks on saying 'seditious behaviour' by Democrats was punishable by death
Trump had previously posted about how 'seditious behaviour' from Democrats was 'punishable by death'
Donald Trump has walked back comments in which he suggested that behaviour by Democrats was a capital offence.
The president's remarks were in response to a video which was posted by six Democratic members of Congress. In the video, the members urged service members in the US to 'refuse illegal orders'.
These illegal orders in question were related to ICE raids seeing civilians targeted and detained for weeks and months without a trial or a charge, and there has been growing criticism about Trump overstepping in government, including deploying the National Guard to Chicago.
In the 90-second video, they said: “Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this constitution.
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“And right now, the threats to our constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home.
"Our laws are clear, you can refuse illegal orders, you can refuse illegal orders, you must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our constitution.”
Trump reacted furiously to the video, taking to his own social media platform Truth Social to make what appeared to be a chilling threat.
In the post, Trump wrote that the video was 'SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH'.
This was one of several posts on the platform containing inflammatory language, including calling the members of Congress 'traitors to our country'.
Another post in Trump's tirade read: “It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL.”
The president also shared a post from another Truth Social account which said: "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD".
Since then, in an interview with Fox News Trump appeared to slightly walk back on his remarks.
“I’m not threatening death, but I think they’re in serious trouble," he said.
The president went on to explain that the behaviour of the lawmakers would have meant death in the 'old days'.
He added: “Today’s a different world. It’s a meeker, milder world. But I will say this, I think what they did is really bad.”
Trump has been clashing with Democrats his whole political career, and he is set to meet New York City's Democratic mayor elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House very soon.
In his victory speech, Mamdani appeared to throw down the gauntlet to the president after Trump threatened to cut federal funding to New York and even deport Mamdani if he was elected.
Ahead of the meeting, Trump said: “We’re looking for the same thing. We want to make New York strong. There’s such a different philosophy.”
Topics: News, US News, Donald Trump, Politics
Kit Roberts