Rep. Deluzio, lawmakers respond to Trump threat
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Aspinwall) represents Allegheny County suburbs and Beaver County. Photo: Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images
Local Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Aspinwall) and a group of Democratic congressional veterans came under threat from President Trump on Thursday after he appeared to call for them to be punished by "DEATH" for encouraging the military not to follow unlawful orders.
Why it matters: The call represents an escalation of violent rhetoric towards the president's perceived political enemies, and comes at a time when the president is using the military in unprecedented ways both domestically and internationally.
Context: "This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday.
- "Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???"
- In another post using similar language a little more than an hour later, the president wrote: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH."
- The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
What they're saying: "We are veterans and national security professionals who love this country and swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime and we intend to keep it," reads a joint statement from Deluzio and the other lawmakers.
- "No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation."
- "Every American must unite and condemn the President's calls for our murder and political violence. ... In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage. We will continue to lead and will not be intimidated."
Driving the news: The Democratic vets — including Sens. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Reps. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) — reminded the military and intelligence communities that "no one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution" in a 90-second video posted on X on Tuesday.
- "This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens. Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this constitution."
- "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."
State of play: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and his leadership deputies said in a statement they have been in touch with the House sergeant-at-arms and U.S. Capitol Police about Trump's posts.
- The conversations, they said, are "to ensure the safety of these Members and their families."
Friction point: Sedition is language intended to "incite insurrection against the governing authority," according to the Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law.
- Members of the military "have the right, and in some cases have the duty, to refuse illegal orders," according to the National Lawyers Guild Military Law Task Force.
Go deeper: "Punishable by death": Trump slams Dem video urging troops to reject illegal orders