Trump Calls for Arrests of Democratic Lawmakers, Saying Their Acts Are 'Punishable by DEATH', Sparking Broad Condemnation

President Donald Trump used his Truth Social account to call for the arrest of several Democratic lawmakers, describing their actions as “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH.” His posts followed a video in which the legislators encouraged active-duty service members to refuse illegal orders. Trump also reshared an inflammatory message that read, “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD.”

Immediate backlash and security steps

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar issued a joint statement condemning the president’s posts, demanding that he delete the messages and retract his violent rhetoric. They warned that such language could inspire violence and said they had notified the House Sergeant at Arms and the United States Capitol Police to ensure the safety of the members and their families.

The White House subsequently attempted to walk back the strongest implications of the posts, saying the president did not intend for Democratic lawmakers to be executed. Democratic leaders and many lawmakers from both parties reiterated that political violence has no place in American public life.

Other major developments

Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed he received a draft peace plan prepared with U.S. and Russian input and said he will discuss the proposal with President Trump in the coming days. Zelenskyy’s office said leaders agreed to work on the plan’s points to pursue a negotiated end to the war.

Offshore drilling

The administration announced plans for new oil and gas leasing off the coasts of California and Florida, setting up potential political battles, including with Florida Republicans who have often resisted expanded Gulf of Mexico drilling. The move comes amid industry pressure for access to more offshore areas despite lower crude prices.

Vaccine-safety webpage change

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine-safety webpage was altered to reflect the views of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who questions links between vaccines and autism. Public health and autism experts strongly condemned the edit, noting that extensive scientific evidence shows no causal link between vaccines and autism.

Court ruling on National Guard deployment

U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb issued a temporary order blocking the administration from deploying National Guard troops within Washington, D.C., to enforce law without the approval of the city’s mayor. The injunction was paused until 11 December to allow the administration time to appeal.

Justice Department inquiry

The Justice Department is investigating how two of the president’s allies handled an inquiry into whether Senator Adam Schiff committed mortgage fraud. The deputy attorney general’s office, led by Todd Blanche, is reported to be overseeing the probe, which appears to have grown out of the primary case involving Schiff.

Endangered Species Act changes proposed

The administration proposed rollbacks to regulations under the Endangered Species Act that would allow economic factors greater weight in listing and habitat decisions, remove some safeguards for future threats including climate impacts, and rescind a “blanket” rule that extended endangered protections automatically to threatened species. Conservation experts warned the changes could accelerate extinctions.

Epstein files transparency

Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act with bipartisan support, setting a 30-day deadline for the Justice Department to release files related to financier Jeffrey Epstein. Senator Lisa Murkowski cautioned that invoking an ongoing investigation to withhold records could leave many feeling deceived.

Other notable items

Senator Elizabeth Warren urged an independent Justice Department to investigate private donations that funded the White House ballroom, calling for a thorough “follow the money” review. Former Vice President Dick Cheney’s funeral did not include invitations for the current president and vice president, according to a White House official. Markets showed renewed anxiety about an AI-driven bubble after indices fell following a brief rally led by strong chipmaker results.

Local and campus news included San Francisco supervisor Connie Chan entering the race to succeed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and a lawsuit by Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil seeking communications between the administration and groups he alleges influenced his arrest after Columbia University protests.

The White House defended the president’s disparaging reference to a Bloomberg reporter, saying Trump “calls out fake news” when he believes reporters spread false information. Meanwhile, Democratic voices, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Representative Ro Khanna, continued to criticize the president’s rhetoric and policy agenda.

Separately, newly released archival documents marking the 50th anniversary of a landmark Senate report show the Gerald Ford White House tried to block publication of findings that exposed CIA assassination attempts — revelations that led to major reforms in agency oversight.