Trump Suggests Hanging Democrats, Republicans Offer Varied Defenses

Following President Donald Trump's social media posts suggesting certain Democratic lawmakers should be jailed or hanged for "seditious behavior," responses on Capitol Hill largely followed party lines. Trump accused Democrats of treason for advising the military against following unlawful orders.

Republicans offered varied reactions, with some, like Speaker Mike Johnson, defending Trump by stating he was defining sedition. Others, like Sen. Rick Scott, called the remarks hypothetical, while many GOP lawmakers claimed they had not seen the posts. A few, including Sen. Lindsey Graham and Rep. Don Bacon, expressed disagreement with Trump's rhetoric, with Graham stating the death penalty suggestion was "not the right answer."