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President Donald Trump's comments accusing Democratic lawmakers of "seditious behavior" following a video encouraging members of the military to refuse "illegal orders" have drawn criticism across party lines. Sen.Elissa Slotkin, one of the six Democrats featured in the video, told ABC News' "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz on Sunday that she believed Trump's attack, threatening the punishment of death for sedition, is "a tool of fear.""He's trying to get us to shut up because he doesn't want to be talking about this," Slotkin said.
"In fact, I would argue that one of the things that he's been doing by repeating it and talking about it is trying to distract us from the big stories of last week, which were the [Jeffrey] Epstein files and then the economy."Democrats defend message to troops as Trump, officials suggest they be punished Republican Rep.Michael McCaul also sought to distance himself from the comments, telling Raddatz, "I don't speak for the president in terms of hanging members of Congress."Sen.
Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., appears on ABC News' "This Week" on Nov.23, 2025.ABC News"I would tone down the rhetoric and tone down the theme here," McCaul added.The White House and Trump have denied Trump was threatening death upon the lawmakers, who have military or national security backgrounds, but the president's attacks have continued despite the lawmakers reporting they've experienced a deluge of threats and have had to increase their security as a result.On Saturday night, Trump again referred to them as "traitors," asserting the individuals "SHOULD BE IN JAIL RIGHT NOW" rather than defending themselves to the media.On "This Week," Slotkin said the lawmakers put out the video because officers had approached them directly with concerns."You don't have to take my word for it.
We've had report after report of legal officer, JAG officers, coming forward and saying, 'Look, I push back on this.I'm not sure that this is legal,'" Slotkin said.
"There is such...