Trump Clarifies Controversial Comments on Congress Members
President Donald Trump has attempted to clarify remarks he made, which some have interpreted as a threat regarding members of Congress. He asserts he wasn’t directly threatening them but underscored the gravity of their actions.
On Thursday, Trump reacted to a video featuring six Democratic members of Congress who encouraged military personnel to resist so-called “illegal” orders. This video, shared by Senator Elissa Slotkin on Tuesday, has amassed around 17 million views on social media platform X.
“I’m not threatening them, but I think they’re in serious trouble,” Trump stated during an appearance on Fox News Radio. He has also commented on this video multiple times via his Truth Social platform, expressing strong disapproval. One post claimed, “This is really bad and dangerous for our country. We cannot let their words stand. This is sedition by traitors!!! Lock them up???”
In another post, he emphasized, “Sedition, punishable by death!” These remarks quickly drew backlash from Democrats, who accused Trump of issuing threats against his political adversaries.
Nevertheless, Trump defended himself on Friday, asserting that his comments alluded to historical consequences for insurrection and were not a call for immediate action today.
He pointed out, “In the past, saying something like that was punishable by the death penalty,” maintaining that these lawmakers had, in his view, broken the law.
Concerned about the potential implications of the video, Trump suggested it could confuse some members of the military and impact their willingness to follow orders. He mentioned that Army Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche are currently looking into the matter.
Trump stated, “They’re investigating it militarily. I don’t know the facts, but I think the military and military courts are investigating it.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Trump’s online commentary, claiming it was a call for “the execution of elected officials.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also condemned the comments as “disgusting and dangerous.”
