Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has made an effort to distance himself from remarks made by former President Donald Trump, who suggested the execution of congressional Democrats. The controversy arose after Trump characterized their actions as “seditious behavior,” which he claimed is “punishable by DEATH.” Johnson, responding to these comments, reiterated that while he disagreed with the Democrats’ suggestions that military personnel should disobey lawful orders, he also critiqued the language used by Trump.
During a press briefing, Johnson stated, “The words that the president chose are not the ones that I would use.” He emphasized that he viewed Trump’s statement as a mere definition of the crime of sedition, asserting, “That is a factual statement.” However, Johnson acknowledged that he would have preferred a different choice of words and expressed concern over the implications of such rhetoric.
In further comments, Johnson remarked that he did not believe the actions described by Trump constituted crimes deserving of capital punishment. “Obviously, I don’t think that… these are crimes punishable by death or any of that,” he said. He highlighted the need for congressional members to avoid encouraging military personnel to disobey orders, calling it a dangerous precedent.
Johnson’s comments came in response to a video featuring Democratic senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly, alongside Representatives Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, and Chrissy Houlahan. The Democrats criticized Trump’s leadership and urged military members to uphold their oaths. Johnson condemned this behavior, stating, “For a senator like Mark Kelly or any member of the House or Senate to behave in that kind of talks is to me so just beyond the pale.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune also condemned Trump’s choice of words, noting, “I don’t agree with that. Obviously, everybody has a First Amendment right, but what they did was ill-advised and provocative and unnecessary.”
Earlier in the day, Trump shared a link to the controversial video, stating, “This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand.” He later doubled down on his comments, reiterating that the behavior exhibited by the senators constituted “seditious behavior at the highest level.” In a series of posts, he called for their arrest and trial, stating, “An example MUST BE SET.”
In the wake of the escalating tensions, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to clarify Trump’s remarks, asserting that he did not actually intend for any members of Congress to face execution. This statement has yet to quell the backlash regarding the incendiary nature of both Trump’s and the involved Democrats’ comments.
As the controversy continues to unfold, the implications of these statements raise significant questions about political discourse and the responsibilities of elected officials in maintaining a civil and respectful dialogue.
