On Thursday, President Donald Trump called out “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR” by Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin and other Democrats, which he said is “punishable by DEATH!”
“It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL,” Trump posted to Truth Social. “Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET. President DJT”
The post linked to news reports on a video posted to X on Tuesday by Slotkin and other Democratic lawmakers with military backgrounds that urged military and intelligence officials in the Deep State to disregard orders from the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Armed Forces.
“We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community,” Slotkin wrote in the post, which included a video message. “The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.
We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community.
The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.
Don’t give up the ship. pic.twitter.com/N8lW0EpQ7r
— Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) November 18, 2025
“Don’t give up the ship,” she wrote.
The roughly minute and a half video included appearances from Slotkin, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H., Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., all of whom took turns speaking directly into the camera.
“Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this constitution. Right now, threats to our constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home,” they said. “Our laws are clear: You can refuse illegal orders.”
“No one has to carry out orders that violate the law,” Slotkin said.
Slotkin’s post alone garnered more than 13 million views and 22,000 comments, including many with the word “sedition.”
At least one user pointed to 8 USC 2387, which imposes a 10-year prison sentence for anyone who “advises, counsels, urges, or in any manner causes or attempts to cause insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty by any member of the military or naval forces of the United States.”
Others asked X’s AI assistant Grok for the definition of sedition.
“In the US, sedition falls under 18 U.S.C. § 2384 for seditious conspiracy, which involves plotting to overthrow the government by force. Conviction carries a penalty of fines, imprisonment up to 20 years, or both,” Grok replied.
The 47th POTUS seems convinced the video from Slotkin and her Democratic colleagues fits that definition.
“This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country,” Trump wrote in another post. “Their words cannot be allowed to stand, SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP??? President DJT”
The comments triggered Democrats in Washington, who responded with more videos and comments on the Senate floor Thursday.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, described Trump’s comments as “an outright threat, and it’s deadly serious” during comments in the upper chamber, The Detroit News reports.
“When Donald Trump uses the language of execution and treason, some of his supporters may very well listen,” Schumer said.
“Earlier today President Trump threatened myself and a number of other service and veteran lawmakers with arrest, trial and death because he didn’t agree with a video we put out this week” Slotkin said in Thursday video pinned to the top of her X page.
Earlier this morning, President Trump threatened me and a group of service and veteran Members of Congress with arrest, trial, and death by hanging.
Here’s my response: pic.twitter.com/jIZYrQTlP7
— Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) November 20, 2025
Slotkin did not reference her call on the Deep State to disregard the allegedly “unlawful orders” she never identified, but instead alleged the issue is “about who we are as Americans and how we’re going to engage with people who we disagree with.”
“I would hope that people of all backgrounds, Democrat, Republican, Independent, would agree that threatening death for people you disagree with is beyond the pale of who we are as Americans,” she said.
Slotkin’s response generated 190,000 views and more than 3,000 comments, the vast majority aimed at countering Slotkin’s claims in the video.
“You publicly engage in seditious behavior,” one user wrote. “Don’t be surprised when there are consequences for your actions. No one is above the law.”
“President Trump was voted into office by over 70 million citizens that stand behind him 1000%!” another user posted. “We stand with him on calling your actions exactly what they are!”
