Six Democratic lawmakers are now under continuous protection from the Capitol Police after former President Donald Trump accused them of “seditious behavior” and suggested such actions should be “punishable by death.”

The group of Democrats—Senators Elissa Slotkin from Michigan and Mark Kelly from Arizona, along with Representatives Jason Crow of Colorado, Maggie Goodlander from New Hampshire, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, and Chris DeLuzio, also from Pennsylvania—became targets of Trump’s ire following the release of a video. In this video, they advised military personnel that they have the right to refuse illegal orders.

Trump took to his platform, Truth Social, on Thursday to express his outrage, labeling their actions as “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” He further called for their arrest in subsequent posts.

Among the reposts, Trump shared over a dozen comments from other users, one of which provocatively stated, “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!”

Elissa Slotkin, who has a background with the CIA, reported receiving hundreds of threats following Trump’s incendiary remarks. In response, the Capitol Police have placed each involved lawmaker under stringent 24-hour surveillance to ensure their safety.

“Capitol Police approached us and said, ‘We’re going to put you on 24/7 security,'” Slotkin shared in an interview with MSNBC, describing the immediate impact of Trump’s statement. “We’ve got law enforcement stationed outside my home. It changes everything instantly.”

She wasn’t surprised by the threats, noting: ‘If the president is saying you should be hanged, then we shouldn’t be surprised when folks on the ground are going to follow suit and say even worse.’ 

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said that Democratic leadership was in contact with law enforcement about the ongoing threats to lawmakers.

Six Democrats – including Elissa Slotkin (pictured center left), Jason Crow (pictured center) and Chrissy Houlihan (pictured right) – are receiving round-the-clock protection from Capitol Police after Donald Trump accused them of ‘seditious behavior’ that should be ‘punishable by DEATH’

Trump issued a furious response on Truth Social Thursday that called their action ‘SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!’ The president made further posts demanding their arrest

‘We unequivocally condemn Donald Trump’s disgusting and dangerous death threats,’ Jeffries said. 

‘We have been in contact with the House Sergeant at Arms and the United States Capitol Police to ensure the safety of these Members and their families.’

Mark Kelly of Arizona, a 25-year Navy combat pilot and former astronaut, recalled his military experiences as he reacted to Trump’s threats.

‘I’ve had a missile blow up next to my airplane, been shot at dozens of times by anti-aircraft fire, and launched into orbit — all for my country,’ Kelly said. 

‘I never thought I’d see a President call for my execution. Trump doesn’t understand the Constitution, and we’re all less safe for it.’

Kelly’s wife, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, famously survived an assassination attempt in 2012.

Chris DeLuzio, who represents Pennsylvania, noted that he had decried violence against Trump when he faced assassination attempts and when Charlie Kirk was murdered but had not heard from Republicans following Trump’s posts. 

‘This is a time to demand that this end, that we reject this kind of lawlessness and that we stand up for the rule of law in this country,’ he told CNN. 

Mark Kelly of Arizona, a 25-year Navy combat pilot and former astronaut, recalled his military experiences as he reacted to Trump’s threats 

Representatives Chris DeLuzio (pictured left) of Pennsylvania and Maggie Goodlander (pictured right) of New Hampshire also stood behind the video

Jason Crow of Colorado, a former Army Ranger, defended their video, claiming that the commander-in-chief had put troops in an unenviable position where they are being forced to break the law.  

‘We are standing by our troops, our service members who are often put in very difficult positions and Donald Trump has put them in very difficult positions and has alluded to putting them in even more difficult positions in the months and years ahead,’ Crow explained to Fox News on Wednesday. 

‘So we are reminding folks about what the uniform code of military justice says, what the Constitution says, what the law of war says,’ he added. 

All of the half-dozen Democrats remained resolute that they had done the right thing in releasing the clip.

They released a joint statement doubling down on their rhetoric later Friday.

‘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. No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation.

‘What’s most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law. Our servicemembers should know that we have their backs as they fulfill their oath to the Constitution and obligation to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our duty.

‘But this isn’t about any one of us. This isn’t about politics. This is about who we are as Americans. Every American must unite and condemn the President’s calls for our murder and political violence. This is a time for moral clarity.

Houlihan (pictured) released a statement jointly signed by the rebellious six Democrats standing behind their video

‘In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage. We will continue to lead and will not be intimidated.

The lawmakers conclude the statement, as they did in the video, by encouraging service members, ‘Don’t give up the ship,’ a War of 1812-era phrase attributed to a U.S. Navy captain’s dying command to his crew.

The video shows the lawmakers, each veteran from different branches of service, ranging from the CIA, Air Force, Army and Navy, pleading with military members.

‘You must refuse illegal orders,’ the lawmakers said. ‘No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our constitution.’ 

The video enraged Trump, the commander-in-chief of all the US’s military forces, who has spent his morning bashing the ‘traitors’ on social media.

Trump even reposted someone calling for the lawmakers to be executed. ‘Hang them George Washington Would!’ the Truth Social entry shared by the president said. 

‘It’s called seditious behavior at the highest level,’ another one of Trump’s posts about the lawmakers reads. 

‘Each one of these traitors to our Country should be arrested and put on trial. Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won’t have a country anymore!!! An example must be set.’

The video enraged Trump, the commander-in-chief of all the US’s military forces, who has spent his morning bashing the ‘traitors’ on social media

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called the video evidence of ‘Stage 4 [Trump Derangement Syndrome].’

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters several times that the lawmakers – all veterans – were urging the military to refuse ‘lawful orders.’

After an exchange with reporters in which CBS Chief White House Correspondent Nancy Cordes argued otherwise, Leavitt called an end to the briefing only to be met with complaints from the press.

‘Karoline, you misquoted Democrats in that video,’ Collins said as Leavitt walked off. 

‘That’s actually not what they said.’

In the video, the lawmakers did not specify which ‘illegal orders’ they were urging troops to disobey, but it comes as Trump is facing criticism for strikes on ‘narco terrorist’ boats that the administration claims are bringing drugs to the US. 

The Democrats also never specified what the soldiers should do if they receive unlawful commands. 

In recent months, the US has conducted at least 20 lethal strikes on alleged narco-terrorist boats bringing drugs illegally to the US. 

The videos of the strikes, which have killed at least 80 people, have regularly been reposted by Hegseth and Trump.