Speaker Mike Johnson defended Donald Trump’s declaration Thursday that some congressional Democrats engaged in “sedition” after the president suggested those Democrats should be executed Thursday.
Johnson said it was the Democrats who were acting “wildly inappropriate” by suggesting that military members should disobey unlawful orders from Trump. By post “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH,” according to Johnson, Trump was simply “defining the crime of sedition.”
“That is a factual statement,” Johnson said, adding attorneys would have to “parse” the language in the criminal act.
Trump had previously reposted another Truth Social user, who wrote, “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!”
Johnson said he did not see the full scope of Trump’s comments and reposts, but he joined in Trump’s attacks on the six House and Senate Democrats who posted a video addressing military members.
“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,” Johnson said, before telling reporters, “I’m not going to say anything more on it.”
In separate remarks, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer denounced Trump’s comments, saying the president “is lighting a match in a country soaked with political gasoline.”
“Every senator, every representative, every American regardless of party should condemn this immediately and without qualification,” he said. ” Because if we don’t draw a line here, there is no line left to draw.”
Jordain Carney contributed to this report.
