Key Democrats Unbowed by Trump’s “Seditious” Death Threats

Leading Democratic lawmakers are standing firm against recent accusations and perceived threats from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who publicly labeled a group of Democrats as engaging in “seditious behaviour punishable by death.” The contentious remarks, disseminated through a series of social media posts, have drawn sharp condemnation and calls for a stronger response from congressional Republicans.

Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, a prominent voice among those targeted by Trump’s rhetoric, unequivocally stated his refusal to be intimidated. Kelly was part of a group of Democrats who previously issued a message to military and intelligence personnel, reminding them of their obligation to disregard “illegal orders.” Reaffirming his stance on Sunday, Kelly asserted that Trump was “trying to intimidate us” and urged Republican colleagues in Congress to publicly repudiate the former president’s threats.

Lawmakers Condemn “Dangerous” Rhetoric

The severity of Trump’s statements was echoed by Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar, who characterized the president’s response as “dangerous.” Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Klobuchar emphasized the gravity of the situation. “What is dangerous is the president of the United States threatening these members of Congress with death,” she stated, adding, “Literally, saying that they should be executed.”

Senator Kelly further highlighted the perceived silence from the Republican side of the aisle regarding these grave accusations. On CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Kelly expressed his disappointment, noting, “We’ve heard very little, basically crickets, from Republicans in the United States Congress about what the president has said about hanging members of Congress.” His remarks underscored a growing frustration among Democrats over the lack of public denunciation from GOP leaders concerning Trump’s inflammatory language directed at him and five other Democratic lawmakers who had stressed the principle of not following unlawful commands.

Mamdani Reaffirms “Fascist” Label Despite Meeting

The ongoing political friction also saw New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani reiterate his long-held view that the former U.S. president is a “fascist” and a “despot.” This reaffirmation came just days after Mamdani and Trump had a surprisingly cordial meeting at the White House, prompting questions about the mayor-elect’s evolving perspective.

During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Mamdani was directly asked if he still considered Trump a threat to democratic institutions. His response left no room for ambiguity. “Everything that I’ve said in the past I continue to believe,” Mamdani replied. He further stressed the importance of intellectual honesty in political discourse, stating, “I think it is important in our politics that we don’t shy away from where we have disagreements.”

The collective responses from these Democratic figures underscore a firm resolve to resist what they perceive as attempts to silence dissent and intimidate political opponents. As the political landscape remains charged, the calls for accountability and a clear rejection of threatening rhetoric continue to intensify, particularly towards those within the Republican party.

Source: The Guardian