by Rod Williams, Nov. 3, 2024- Recently
The Atlantic compiled a list of forty instances in which Trump incited or praised violence. Below are a few excerpts from that article.
“This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH.” September 22, 2023, on Truth Social, suggesting that General Mark Milley, then the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, should be executed
“Any guy that can do a body slam, he is my guy!” October 18, 2018, referring to then-Representative Greg Gianforte, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge for physically assaulting a reporter
“Can’t you just shoot them? Just shoot them in the legs or something?” June 2020, according to former Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s memoir, which described Trump having said this about protesters outside the White House (Trump has denied saying this)
“I don’t fucking care that they have weapons. They’re not here to hurt me.” January 6, 2021, just minutes before addressing the crowd at the Ellipse, Trump shouted this to his advance team, according to testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson (who served as assistant to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows during the Trump administration)
“I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution.” March 4, 2023, at the Conservative Political Action Committee summit
“We pledge to you that we will root out the Communists, Marxists, fascists, and the radical-left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country, that lie and steal and cheat on elections … The threat from outside forces is far less sinister, dangerous, and grave than the threat from within. Our threat is from within.” November 11, 2023, during a Veterans Day speech
“If I don’t get elected … it’s going to be a bloodbath for the country.” March 16, 2024, during a speech about the U.S. auto-manufacturing industry in Ohio (Trump’s campaign later said that he was referencing a “bloodbath” for the automaker industry)
“In Colorado, they’re so brazen, they’re taking over sections of the state. And you know, getting them out will be a bloody story. They should have never been allowed to come into our country. Nobody checked them.” September 7, 2024, at a rally in Wisconsin, referring to his mass-deportation plans
“I always say, we have two enemies … We have the outside enemy, and then we have the enemy from within, and the enemy from within, in my opinion, is more dangerous than China, Russia, and all these countries … We have some very bad people; we have some sick people, radical-left lunatics. And it should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by the National Guard—or, if really necessary, by the military.” October 13, 2024, in a Fox News interview
“It is the enemy from within. And they’re very dangerous—they’re Marxists and Communists and fascists … They’re dangerous for our country. We have China, we have Russia, we have all these countries. If you have a smart president, they can all be handled. The more difficult are, you know, the Pelosis, these people, they’re so sick; they’re so evil.” October 15, 2024, during a Fox News town hall
As disgusted as I am by Trump making these remarks, I think I am more disgusted and saddened that people I know and some people who I love approve of and cheer these remarks. They not only approve of Trump's violent rhetoric but also his cruelty and authoritarian tendencies. There are people I am close to and people who I worked with to advance the conservative cause and win elections who think Trump's call to violence is acceptable and justified.
I try to not let political differences taint my view of people. I try not to be embittered toward them. There is more to a person than their political views. I paper over differences by telling myself honorable people can have different opinions. Most often it has been people to my left for whom I have had to remind myself of this. During the Cold War I had to accept that the anti-anti-Communist and advocates of unilateral disarmament were good people who were simply misguided. I am pro-life, but it has not stopped me from loving pro-abortion family members.
Should Trump win, I don't know how bad he will be. I don't think in one term Trump could consolidate his power and destroy our democratic institutions. I suspect life, for most of us, will go on as normal. While if I were Liz Chaney or Nancy Pelosi, or Mark Milley or John Kelly or maybe one a few hundred people, I would be concerned for my life and my freedom; for most of us, I think we personally have nothing to fear from Trump. If that is the case, then as emotions subside, any animosity I might feel toward those who elect Trump will subside. However, if as J. D. Vance once said, Trump becomes "America's Hitler," it will be difficult to feel kindly toward the people who put him in office.
Top Stories
Posts
