White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that members of Congress who made a video saying military officials shouldn't follow "illegal orders" shouldn't be executed for sedition, despite Trump's social media post saying that the video was "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH."
Watch Leavitt's news briefing in the player above.
Asked if Trump meant that the Democratic lawmakers who are military veterans behind the video should be killed, Leavitt said, "No."
Leavitt said that defying the military chain of command could create national security risks and lead to deaths.
"Every single order that is given to this United States military by this commander in chief and through this command chain of command, through the Secretary of war, is lawful," she said.
White House press secretary hasn't seen Trump use AI
Trump's social media account has featured videos of him created by artificial intelligence and he's banking on AI investments to grow the economy. But the president doesn't appear to be personally using AI.
When asked at Thursday's news briefing if Trump personally uses AI, Leavitt said, "I don't think so."
Leavitt added that she hasn't "personally witnessed it."
Trump recently talked up the economic benefits of AI bringing in foreign investment at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum. His account has posted AI videos of Trump playing soccer with Cristiano Ronaldo in the Oval Office, as well as Trump flying a jet plane and dropping what appeared to be feces on U.S. cities that contained people protesting him.
Leavitt praises Trump for inviting NYC mayor-elect Mamdani to White House
Leavitt said the invitation "speaks volumes" about Trump.
The president during Zohran Mamdani's successful run to lead United States biggest city, however, repeatedly threatened to limit federal funding if voters elected the Democratic Socialist.
"I think it's very telling, but I also think it speaks to the fact that President Trump is willing to meet with anyone, and talk to anyone, and to try to do what's right on behalf of the American people," Leavitt said.
White House says South African president was 'running his mouth' about U.S. participation in G20
Leavitt was responding to comments from President Cyril Ramaphosa that the U.S. had "changed its mind" and said his comments were "not appreciated by the president or his team."
She said the U.S. had not changed its stance on boycotting the G20 in South Africa this month. She said the U.S. is not participating in talks at the summit but is merely sending a diplomatic official to a handover ceremony at the end of the event which is meant to recognize that near year's G20 will be hosted by the U.S. It's scheduled to take place at Trump's golf club in Doral, Florida.