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Violent Political Rhetoric is Not a Both Sides Issue

mjpardus
Jul 17, 20242 min read

I'm thankful the ex-president is safe. But he and his party own the violent rhetoric that now masquerades as political discourse. Despite the “neutral” reporting in mainstream media, this is not a both sides issue.

 

Trump has used violent messaging from the beginning of his foray into presidential politics by claiming that Mexicans are “bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists.”[1] A theme that he has returned to repeatedly saying that immigrants were “poisoning the blood of our country.”[2],[3]

 

Trump has continuously called for violence based on his claims the “2020 election was rigged” (even the conservative Wall Street Journal called Trumps claims unsubstantiated).[4] All setting the stage for the Trump incited violence at the Capital on January 6th with MAGA adherents chanting “hang Mike Pence.”[5] 

 

And he has moved on to the 2024 election with the same violent rhetoric saying there would be a “bloodbath” if he loses the election.[6]

 

Following Trump’s New York conviction, social media including Truth Social and X (formerly Twitter) exploded with threats of violence. Many Trump supporters said that his conviction was proof that the American political system was broken and that only violent action could save the country.


One post read “1,000,000 men (armed) need to go to Washington and hang everyone. That's the only solution.”  “AMERICA FULLY DESTROYED BY DEMOCRATS. LOCK AND LOAD,” read another.[7]

 

And calls for violence are not limited to Trump. At a campaign rally in March, Kari Lake said “They’re coming after us with lawfare. We are going to put on the armor of God. And maybe strap on a Glock on the side of us just in case.”[8]

 

North Carolina Gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson (R) promoted the murder of "socialists," "wicked people," and other perceived enemies. “Some folks need killing,” Robinson said. “It’s time for somebody to say it. It’s not a matter of vengeance. It’s not a matter of being mean or spiteful. It’s a matter of necessity.”[9]

 

Wyoming Sen. Anthony Bouchard (R-Cheyenne) suggested that Doctor Anthony Fauci should be executed saying “[a]fter prosecution, the chair, the gallows, or lethal injection?”[10]

 

Calls for calm after the assassination attempt had no effect on Republicans at the RNC convention.

 

Senator Ron Johnson told the attendees that Biden, Harris and other Democrats were a "clear and present danger."[11]

 

Peaceful protesters were threatened by counterprotesters saying that “[t]here might be a bullet with your name on it today,” the man leading the calls yelled.[12]

 

I’ll finish with comments made by Keith Roberts, the President of the ultra-right Heritage Foundation, “We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be.”[13]

 

I could go on with a list of Trump’s violent rhetoric, but I think the point has been made that this violent political rhetoric is not a both sides issue.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

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