Senator Chris Murphy issued one of the most forceful condemnations yet of President Donald Trump’s rhetoric, telling America’s political and financial elite to “pick a side” after Trump suggested Democratic lawmakers should be executed. Murphy’s statement has become the centerpiece of a rapidly escalating clash over political violence, military loyalty, and democratic norms.
Story Highlights
- Murphy calls on Republicans, business leaders, and major law firms to denounce Trump.
- Trump labeled Democratic lawmakers “traitors” and suggested they be “hanged.”
- Lawmakers’ original video focused on refusing unlawful military orders.
- Some Republicans criticized both the video and Trump’s response.
- Officials warn Trump’s rhetoric could inspire real-world violence.
Murphy’s Fury: A Direct Challenge to America’s Power Centers
Senator Chris Murphy delivered an unusually blunt message on November 20 and 21: America’s influential figures must speak up. Calling Trump’s posts “the wholesale incitement, endorsement, and rationalization of political violence,” Murphy said the country was witnessing “an assault on the Constitution” that required immediate, public condemnation. His demand was aimed not at everyday voters, but at those with real leverage: Republican elected officials, CEOs and business leaders, and Partners at major law firms and financial institutions.
“You have to pick a side,” Murphy said, accusing many of remaining silent out of political convenience or financial incentives. This, he warned, is how democracies erode—slowly, then suddenly.
NEW: A hyperventilating Democrat Senator Chris Murphy drops the F bomb while raging about President Trump's recent Truth Social post.
Murphy fumed over Trump's suggestion of the death penalty for Congress members who called on the U.S. military to refuse orders.
"Maybe it's… pic.twitter.com/lGNXYBOR9D
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 20, 2025
The Video That Started the Firestorm
A day earlier, six Democratic lawmakers—all military or intelligence veterans—released a video reminding U.S. service members of a foundational principle under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): They must refuse illegal orders.
The lawmakers included Sens. Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly, and Reps. Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan, and Chris Deluzio. Their message: loyalty is owed to the Constitution, not to any president. The video did not cite specific orders but followed debates over Trump’s use of extrajudicial strikes and efforts to deploy the National Guard against state objections.
Trump’s Explosive Reaction
President Trump responded on Truth Social with escalating fury, calling the lawmakers: “TRAITORS” and Guilty of “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR”. Murphy framed this as not mere rhetoric but a direct invocation of political violence from the president.
Republican Response: Mixed and Cautious
Before Trump’s posts, some Republicans described the lawmakers’ video as “reckless,” arguing that service members must follow lawful orders through the proper chain of command.
After Trump’s death-related comments, several expressed concern that such language, combined with the charged political climate, could encourage violence from unstable individuals. However, few issued the full-throated denunciation Murphy demanded.
A Warning Murphy Has Sounded Before
Murphy has long cautioned that Trump’s actions represent an ongoing erosion of democratic norms. He has previously described Trump’s behavior as: “An assault on our institutions” and A threat requiring “full-scale opposition”. This latest episode, he argued, is proof that the danger is accelerating—and that silence from powerful figures is no longer an option.
Chris Murphy finally said what half of Washington is too scared to admit.
After Trump spent the weekend fantasizing about executing political opponents and calling Democrats “enemies punishable by death,” Murphy snapped:
“If you are a person of influence in this country, maybe… pic.twitter.com/ePZiisanQB
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) November 20, 2025
Sources
- Murphy urges influential Americans to ‘pick a f‑‑‑ing side’ after Trump ‘seditious’ posts – Yahoo.
- Democratic Senator Drops F-Bomb In Fiery Response To Trump’s ‘HANG THEM’ Attack
- Trump says Democrats’ video message to military is ‘seditious behavior’ punishable by death
