Elissa Slotkin urges Trump to 'button it up' after execution remarks toward Democrats

WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin on Thursday, November 20, said she believes President Donald Trump should "button it up" after he suggested six Democratic members of Congress should be imprisoned or even executed.

Earlier on Thursday, Trump called the lawmakers "traitors" in a Truth Social post for urging active-duty military members to disobey unlawful orders from his administration.

Elissa Slotkin reports 'huge spike in death threats' after Donald Trump comments

Elissa Slotkin told Nexstar Washington Correspondent Raquel Martin, "I would just call upon him and everybody to button it up when it comes to threatening violence against people you disagree with." 

She added that her office has received a "huge spike in death threats and intimidation on our phones and on our emails and websites" since Trump's comments. Slotkin also said that the US Capitol Police and House Sergeant at Arms William McFarland "have been insisting" on boosting her security.

On Tuesday, November 18, Democratic lawmakers Slotkin, Sen. Mark Kelly, and Reps. Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan, and Jason Crow directly addressed service members in a video on X, saying, "Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders."

Slotkin wrote in the video caption, "We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community. The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution. Don’t give up the ship."

The lawmakers warned in the video that "this administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens." They emphasized, "Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear: You can refuse illegal orders… You must refuse illegal orders. We have your back."

Donald Trump says Democrats' remarks are 'dangerous to our country'

After the video circulated, Trump posted on Truth Social, "This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP??? President DJT."

In subsequent posts, he wrote, "It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand- We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET. President DJT," and "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!"

The Democratic lawmakers emphasized support for service members who might face such dilemmas, reaffirming that their loyalty is to the Constitution, not any single political leader. They also underscored the law’s clarity regarding service members’ duty in response to unlawful commands, repeating, "You can refuse illegal orders."