House Democrats Seek Capitol Police protection Following Trump’s Rhetoric Targeting Veteran Lawmakers
House Democratic leaders contacted the U.S. Capitol police and the House Sergeant at Arms on Thursday, November 20, 2025, expressing concerns for the safety of several Democratic lawmakers after former President Donald Trump appeared to suggest their recent comments warranted the death penalty. The move came after Trump sharply escalated his criticism of the lawmakers following the release of a video encouraging service members to resist unlawful orders.
Trump’s posts on Truth Social stated, “This is really bad, and Hazardous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand,” and “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOUR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???” He followed up with a post declaring, “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), and Democratic caucus chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) released a joint statement condemning trump’s remarks as “nauseating and dangerous death threats.” They stated they had been in contact with security officials “to ensure the safety of these Members and their families” and called on Trump to “immediately delete these unhinged social media posts and recant his violent rhetoric before he gets someone killed.” The Democratic leaders also urged republicans to ”forcefully” condemn Trump’s comments.
The controversy stems from a video released by a group of House and Senate Democrats who have served in the military or national security.Led by Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), the video urges soldiers to “refuse illegal orders.” Participants included sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Reps.Chris Deluzio (D-PA.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), and Jason Crow (D-Colo.). slotkin stated in the video, “No one has to carry out orders that violate the law” or the Constitution, though the lawmakers did not specify which orders they believed should be disobeyed.
The White House defended Trump’s comments, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that trump does not want to execute members of Congress.Leavitt countered by questioning the focus on Trump’s rhetoric, asking, ”Why aren’t you talking about what these members of Congress are doing to encourage and incite violence?” She argued the lawmakers were “literally saying to 1.3 active duty service members to defy the chain of command.” When pressed on the legality of orders, Leavitt asserted, “they are suggesting … that the president has given illegal orders, which he has not.”
Following Trump’s posts, the Democratic lawmakers who appeared in the video released a joint statement reaffirming their position. They stated, “We … swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. no threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation,” and repeated the phrase used to conclude their video: “Don’t Give Up The Ship!”
