'Punishable by Death': Trump Demands Executions for Democrats as Republicans Downplay Threats
A handful of Republican senators are reprimanding President Donald Trump following his demand for the execution of political adversaries, even as the broader party seems willing to overlook the president's threats of lethal violence.
On Thursday, the 79-year-old president launched an aggressive series of posts on Truth Social, implying that a specific group of Democrats deserves capital punishment. This came after the lawmakers released a video advising U.S. intelligence and military personnel to disobey unlawful commands.
“SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” Trump declared in a stunning post, shortly after labeling the group “traitors.” He also shared a supporter's message explicitly demanding the Democrats be hanged, which read, “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!”
Republican Senator Rand Paul voiced serious concern regarding Trump’s incendiary language, warning that such statements essentially solicit violence from unstable individuals.
“That kind of rhetoric isn’t good and it stirs up people among us who may not be stable,” Paul, 62, explained to ABC News. He noted that it could incite people to think that since traitors deserve the death penalty, they should “take matters into my own hands,” adding that this is not behavior that should be encouraged.
The senator from Kentucky, a frequent internal critic of Trump, insisted that “political disagreements” must be resolved through political means.
Concurrently, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis described the president’s death threats against the veteran Democrats as “a little strong.” According to reports, Tillis, 65, emphasized that “Words carry a lot of weight.” Not seeking reelection next year, Tillis added, “Kids are watching,” suggesting the president should consider the impressionable youth observing his behavior rather than just reacting to the Democrats' actions.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham characterized Trump’s social media activity as “over the top,” though he simultaneously condemned the Democratic video—which included Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, among others—as “irresponsible.” Despite disagreeing with the president’s specific wording, Graham, 70, focused heavy criticism on the lawmakers.
Meanwhile, Reuters observed that a significant number of GOP senators refused to speak on the matter.
Other responses were dismissive. Florida Senator Rick Scott, 72, told reporters, “It’s a hypothetical. Trump’s not going to do something illegal. OK, so it’s not going to happen.” Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, 45, suggested the president was speaking with “his tongue in cheek.”
When pressed by CNN, House Speaker Mike Johnson, 53, defended the commander-in-chief, asserting Trump was simply “defining the crime of sedition” while blasting the Democrats’ video as “wildly inappropriate.”
When approached for comment, the White House directed inquiries to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. When asked directly if Trump intends to execute members of Congress, Leavitt responded, “No,” before pivoting to attack the lawmakers involved.
She accused the sitting members of Congress of conspiring to orchestrate a message encouraging active-duty service members to “defy the president’s lawful orders.”
The Democrats' message explicitly stated that service members are sworn to the U.S. Constitution and have the right to refuse “illegal” orders, though they did not define what specific orders might be illegal. Leavitt characterized their statement as dangerous, suggesting it was “perhaps punishable by law.”