CNN’s Kaitlan Collins clashed with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during Thursday’s press briefing, accusing her of misrepresenting a video message from Democratic lawmakers aimed at military personnel and service members. Collins, 33, who serves as the network’s chief White House correspondent, challenged Leavitt’s portrayal of the video. The footage features six Democratic lawmakers advising military and intelligence community members that they can “refuse illegal orders.” Leavitt, 28, repeatedly claimed these lawmakers, all veterans, were actually encouraging military members to reject “lawful orders.”

The tension escalated when CBS Chief White House Correspondent Nancy Cordes also disputed Leavitt’s interpretation, leading the press secretary to abruptly conclude the briefing amidst protests from the press corps. As Leavitt exited, Collins asserted, “Karoline, you misquoted Democrats in that video,” pointing out the discrepancy in Leavitt’s statements.

The video in question includes appearances by Senators Elissa Slotkin from Michigan and Mark Kelly from Arizona, along with Representatives Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire. Each of these lawmakers has a background in the military or intelligence sectors.

The lawmakers did not specify which ‘illegal orders’ they were urging troops to disobey, but it comes as Trump faces criticism for deadly strikes on ‘narco terrorist’ boats that the administration claims are bringing drugs to the US. ‘You must refuse illegal orders,’ the lawmakers said in the video. ‘No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our constitution.’

In response, Trump took to Truth Social and called for the politicians’ executions. ‘It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL,’ he wrote in one post. ‘Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET.’ In a follow-up post, he wrote: ‘SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!’