New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has publicly questioned former President Donald Trump's mental stability following his inflammatory remarks targeting Democratic lawmakers, including what she characterized as death threats.
Volatile Comments Spark Concern
The progressive lawmaker made her remarks on Friday, November 23, 2025, responding to Trump's ongoing attacks against six Congressional Democrats with military and intelligence backgrounds. These lawmakers had released a video urging service members to refuse what they described as "illegal orders" from the administration.
Ocasio-Cortez told reporters that Trump's behavior goes beyond being shocking or offensive. "It's bizarre, it is erratic, it's volatile," she stated. "And I think it indicates a mental state that we should all be questioning right now. It is not normal to make these accusations. It is not normal to invoke these kinds of threats of violence."
Trump's Escalating Rhetoric
The controversy centers around a video featuring Senators Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mark Kelly of Arizona, among others. The video emerged during what sources describe as murky times for service members, as the Trump administration has spearheaded legally disputed federal deployments into Democratic-led cities and ordered fatal strikes on suspected drug smugglers at sea.
Trump's response was immediate and severe. He called the video makers traitors and stated their behavior was "punishable by death." The former president further escalated the situation by boosting a social media entry calling for their hanging. On Saturday, he doubled down, calling the video "sedition at the highest level" and demanding jail time for all involved.
Real-World Consequences and Official Response
The rhetoric has had tangible consequences. Senator Slotkin reported that threats against her skyrocketed amid Trump's incendiary attacks, highlighting the real-world impact of the political statements.
The Department of Justice appears poised to intervene. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche strongly suggested last week that the agency would investigate the matter, though specific details about the scope of any investigation remain unclear.
The incident represents another flashpoint in the increasingly tense American political landscape, raising questions about the appropriate boundaries of political discourse and the potential consequences of inflammatory language from prominent political figures.
