Democratic senators in the United States are standing firm against what they describe as intimidation tactics from former President Donald Trump, after he suggested their actions warranted execution.
Condemnation of Presidential Threats
Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, has publicly stated he refuses to be intimidated after Trump accused him and other Democratic lawmakers of "seditious behaviour punishable by death" in social media posts. The confrontation stems from a message Kelly and several colleagues sent to military and intelligence personnel, reminding them they are not obligated to follow illegal orders.
"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," Kelly stated during an appearance on CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday. He reiterated his call for congressional Republicans to publicly reject Trump's threats against him and five other Democratic lawmakers.
Growing Democratic Backlash
Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar joined the condemnation, describing Trump's response as "dangerous" during her appearance on Meet the Press. "What is dangerous is the president of the United States threatening these members of Congress with death," she stated. "Literally, saying that they should be executed."
The political firestorm comes amid revelations about the online Maga movement. A new transparency feature on X, the platform owned by Elon Musk, has revealed that many influential Maga personalities are based outside the United States, including in Russia, Nigeria and India.
Broader Political Implications
In related developments, New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani reiterated his view that Trump represents a "fascist" threat to democracy, despite having had a surprisingly cordial meeting with the former president at the White House days earlier.
Meanwhile, the controversial "department of government efficiency" (Doge) has reportedly been dissolved with eight months remaining on its contract. When questioned about Doge's status, the office of personnel management director Scott Kupor told Reuters earlier this month: "That doesn't exist," adding that it was no longer a "centralized entity."
The ongoing political tensions highlight the deepening divisions in American politics as Trump continues to make controversial statements about his political opponents while Republican lawmakers largely remain silent on his threats against Democratic colleagues.
