Six Democratic senators are now under 24-hour security protection after former President Donald Trump labeled them as "traitors" and suggested their actions could be "punishable by death." The lawmakers had released a video urging military personnel to refuse what they described as "illegal orders" from Trump.
Round-the-Clock Security Implemented
Capitol Police took the extraordinary step of providing continuous security to all six senators following Trump's inflammatory statements. Senator Elissa Slotkin confirmed the development, revealing that law enforcement officials approached them directly with the security arrangement.
"Capitol Police came to us and said, 'We're gonna put you on 24/7 security,'" Senator Slotkin disclosed during an interview with MS NOW. The security measures were implemented after the Democratic lawmakers collectively urged military members to disobey potential illegal orders from the former president.
The Controversial Video and Its Creators
The six senators, all with backgrounds in military or intelligence services, released a one-minute video on Tuesday that quickly drew national attention. In the video, they explicitly addressed service members about their constitutional responsibilities.
"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 must refuse illegal orders," the senators declared in their joint message.
The group includes Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona, Representatives Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan from Pennsylvania, Representative Maggie Goodlander from New Hampshire, and Representative Jason Crow from Colorado. All except Slotkin have direct military experience.
Slotkin served as a CIA analyst and worked in both the State Department and Pentagon during the Obama administration. Crow is an Army veteran decorated with a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq. Deluzio and Kelly served in the Navy, while Houlahan was in the Air Force. Goodlander dedicated eleven years as an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve.
Trump's Explosive Response and White House Clarification
Donald Trump reacted vehemently to the video, accusing the six lawmakers of what he termed "seditious behaviour" and making startling claims about potential consequences.
"This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. In subsequent posts, he escalated his rhetoric dramatically.
The former president demanded that "each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL" and insisted that "an example MUST BE SET." His most alarming post asked "LOCK THEM UP???" before sharing another user's message that referenced hanging.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later attempted to clarify Trump's statements, denying that he was calling for the execution of Congress members. She shifted focus to the senators' video, accusing them of encouraging military personnel to defy lawful orders.
"They are literally saying to 1.3 million active duty service members to defy the chain of command, not to follow lawful orders," Leavitt stated during a press briefing on Thursday. She suggested that such behavior "perhaps is punishable by law."
The incident represents another dramatic escalation in the ongoing political tensions between Trump and Democratic lawmakers, raising serious questions about the safety of elected officials and the boundaries of political discourse in contemporary American politics.
