U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday criticized Democratic lawmakers who urged military personnel to refuse illegal orders, suggesting they should face the death penalty. He labeled them as traitors and accused them of sedition.

The remarks came after a video was released on Tuesday featuring six Democratic lawmakers, all of whom have military or intelligence backgrounds. They did not specify which orders they were referring to, but their comments were made in the context of ongoing scrutiny of Trump's administration regarding military deployments both domestically and internationally.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" He also expressed that the situation was "really bad, and Dangerous to our Country," and questioned whether the lawmakers should be imprisoned.

The group of lawmakers includes Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, both of whom have served in the military and intelligence sectors. They accused the Trump administration of creating divisions between the military and American citizens, stating, "Right now, the threats to our constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. You can refuse illegal orders."

Trump's administration has faced criticism for deploying the National Guard in various U.S. cities, often against local officials' wishes, in an effort to manage unrest. Internationally, Trump has ordered military strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels, resulting in over 80 deaths since early September. Critics argue these actions are illegal and constitute extrajudicial killings.

An open letter from over 300 former national security officials, identifying themselves as the "Steady State," expressed strong support for the Democratic lawmakers. They emphasized that the principle of military personnel refusing unlawful orders is fundamental to civilian control of the military.

The White House and Pentagon officials, including Pete Hegseth, condemned the Democratic lawmakers' message. Hegseth referred to it as "Stage 4 TDS," a term used to mock Trump's critics.

This is not the first time Trump has mentioned the death penalty in relation to military matters. Earlier this year, he suggested that former top military officer Mark Milley should face severe consequences for his actions during the January 2021 Capitol riots, stating that in the past, such behavior would have warranted death.