Politically Pomp

By Patty @ Politically POMP

Over the last year, we’ve watched the line between political disagreement and political persecution blur at an alarming rate. But today’s moment is something different. It’s something darker. It’s something we cannot normalize.

Then today, President Trump posted (or amplified) multiple messages calling Democratic lawmakers “seditious,” followed by the phrase:

“PUNISHABLE BY DEATH.”

This wasn’t about pedophiles. It wasn’t about traitors spying for foreign governments. It wasn’t about violent extremists attacking our country.

It was about members of Congress, veterans, intelligence officers, and elected officials, who released a video reminding U.S. service members of a basic constitutional principle:

“Your oath is to the Constitution. You are not required to obey illegal orders.”

That’s it.
That’s the “sedition.”

And Trump’s response was to call for their arrest, trial, and execution.

So let’s talk about what actually led to this moment, because the context matters.

The Real Story: Why Lawmakers Released That Video

Over the last several weeks, deeply concerning events have unfolded inside U.S. Southern Command:

1. A military attorney warned that the bombing of civilian boats in the Caribbean was likely illegal.

This wasn’t an activist.
This wasn’t a partisan official.
This was a military lawyer saying the president’s order might violate both U.S. and international law. PolitiFact-Source

2. Multiple service members began reaching out for legal guidance.

Men and women in uniform were quietly asking lawyers what to do if they were ordered to participate in actions they believed might be unlawful. (This is according to multiple Senior Congressional aides)

That alone should alarm every American.

3. The Southern Command admiral abruptly resigned.

Not transferred.
Not reassigned.
Resigned. Politico Article

Something is deeply wrong when the people tasked with carrying out presidential orders are quietly seeking legal protection, while their commander walks away.

This is why Democratic lawmakers acted.
This is why they released a video reminding the military:

“Illegal orders are not lawful orders.”

This is basic civics.
This is constitutional duty.
This is exactly what we want our elected officials to do when they see signs of abuse or illegality.

The President’s Response: Punish Them by Death

Instead of reassuring the public…
Instead of clarifying the legality of the orders…
Instead of respecting oversight…

The President escalated.

He called his political opponents “seditious.”
He invoked capital punishment.
He implied they were traitors deserving to be hung.

This is authoritarian rhetoric- full stop.

No modern U.S. president has ever called for the death of elected officials for criticizing or questioning the legality of military orders.

Let me repeat that:

Never.

Why This Moment Matters

This isn’t only about Trump.
It’s about the trajectory of a government that increasingly treats loyalty to one man as more important than allegiance to the Constitution.

When lawmakers warn about illegal orders, that’s not sedition, that’s oversight.

When service members question whether they can lawfully obey an order, that’s not mutiny, that’s responsibility.

And when a president starts calling for the execution of political opponents, that’s not strength

that’s a flashing red warning sign for democracy.

We cannot allow this to become normal.
We cannot shrug it off as “just Trump being Trump.”
We cannot pretend that rhetoric like this doesn’t have consequences — especially when it comes from the Commander in Chief.

History has shown us repeatedly that dangerous words lead to dangerous actions.

We’re in unprecedented territory, and silence is how democracies die

The lawmakers who spoke up did exactly what we’re supposed to do in a constitutional republic:
Raise alarms when the boundaries of legality are at risk.

For that, they were labeled traitors.

For that, the president demanded death.

And for that, we must not stay silent.

Whether you love Trump, hate Trump, or fall somewhere in between, every American should be able to agree on this:

Political disagreement should never come with a death sentence.

We are better than this.
We must be better than this.

And we need to say it out loud, while we still can.