House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) defended President Donald Trump's remarks calling for severe punishment of Democratic lawmakers who publicly urged U.S. service members to defy unlawful orders from the commander in chief.

Johnson told reporters on Thursday that it was the Democrats, not the president, who engaged in "extremely inappropriate" behavior by advising soldiers to disobey unlawful orders.

Trump wrote on Truth Social, "This is SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR at the highest level. All of these people who have betrayed our country should be arrested and tried."

He added, "Their statements are unacceptable - without this, our country no longer exists!!!" and later, "Seditious acts that can be punishable by death!"

Johnson stated, "This is a factual statement," and noted that lawyers would ultimately need to "carefully analyze" the language of relevant criminal statutes.

Johnson also expressed frustration over the message these lawmakers were sending to young, impressionable soldiers.

Johnson said, "Consider the threat this poses to national security and the implications for our institutions." 

He added, "It is absolutely unacceptable for senators like Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), or any member of the Senate or House, to behave in that manner," before telling reporters, "I will say no more on this matter."

Trump's reaction stemmed from a video released Tuesday by six Democratic lawmakers with military or intelligence backgrounds. In the video, the lawmakers asserted that soldiers have an obligation to disobey unlawful orders.

Initially, Democratic lawmakers criticized the early airstrikes on drug trafficking vessels by citing human rights concerns, specifically the right to a lawful trial and the execution of death penalties. However, after their arguments were undermined by the response that striking drug transport ships of criminal organizations designated as international terrorist groups did not pose procedural issues, they appeared to change their strategy.

The problematic video was conceived by Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.). Slotkin is a former CIA analyst who served multiple tours in Iraq.

In the video, lawmakers not only brought up the right to disobey orders but also went as far as to give specific instructions, saying "do not abandon the ship" and directly urging to stop airstrikes on drug trafficking vessels.

In an interview with The New York Times, Slotkin said that some active-duty soldiers expressed concerns about the legality of airstrikes against individuals accused of maritime drug trafficking, questioning whether they could be held personally responsible for any deaths resulting from them.

Slotkin said, "There's a real issue of fraud and a feeling that senior commanders aren't protecting them."

When asked at a briefing on Thursday if "the President wants the lawmakers executed," White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre responded, "No. Let me be clear about what the President is reacting to."

She pointed out, "Members of the United States Congress conspired and produced a video message encouraging members of the United States military, active-duty military personnel, members of our national security agencies to disregard lawful orders from the President of the United States."

Jean-Pierre stated, "The sanctity of our military relies on the chain of command, and when that chain of command is broken, people can die," adding, "It can lead to chaos."

She added, "They sought to use their credentials as former military, veterans, former members of our national security apparatus to send a signal to people serving under Donald Trump, the commander in chief, that they could resist him and betray their oath of office. That is a very dangerous message, and it can potentially be punished by law."

Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said it was "unthinkable" for elected officials to tell soldiers to defy the commander in chief, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth dismissed the video as "late-stage Trump Derangement Syndrome."

When asked if Trump's remarks, which mentioned "traitors" and "death penalty," incited political violence, Jean-Pierre once again pushed back.

She said, "They are literally telling 1.3 million active-duty military personnel not to follow lawful orders. They claim the President issued unlawful orders, which he has not," she said.

Jean-Pierre stated, "We do not break court orders. We act within the rules," and added that the lawmakers' message "can disrupt the chain of command. They should be held accountable. That is what the President wants to see."

By Sung Ku Hong, Chief Editor, NNP USA / Special Correspondent for this newspaper, NNP info@newsandpost.com