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The GOP gambit is to redefine all opposition to Trump as incitement while giving him a free hand to foment violence
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Jonathan Chait
The Republican gambit is to redefine all opposition to Trump as incitement while giving him a free hand to foment violence
The Republican gambit is to redefine all opposition to Trump as incitement while giving him a free hand to foment violence
Donald Trump Is a Threat to Democracy, and Saying So Is Not Incitement Opposing political violence does not mean ignoring authoritarianism.
By Jonathan Chait
the national interest 10:56 A.M.
Donald Trump is a threat to democracy. That was true before an assassination attempt was foiled at his golf course Sunday, and it remains true after. Political violence in general, and assassinating presidential candidates specifically, also poses risks to democracy.
There is no contradiction between these ideas whatsoever. Yet Trump’s supporters have responded to both attempts on his life by muddying the waters, exploiting the near-tragedies with cynical efforts to redefine critiques of Trump’s authoritarian inclinations as violent provocation.
In the wake of the news from Florida, Trump defenders began spreading this line reflexively. Conservative commentator Ben Domenech: “The commentariat insists on owning zero consequences for their constant repetition that Trump is an existential threat whose election will bring bloody fascism, when it’s absolutely obvious it motivated this would-be assassin.” Miranda Devine in the New York Post: “Reckless rhetoric from Dems and media to blame for second Trump assassination attempt.”
Moderates and liberals, who correctly believe in upholding democratic norms, especially nonviolence, might be tempted to understand these arguments as a species of principle. But the effort to rule criticism of Trump’s authoritarianism as dangerous and out of bounds is not motivated by or related to any defense of democracy or nonviolence. It is a purely cynical attempt to foam the runway for the election of a dangerous man.
/snip
By Jonathan Chait
the national interest 10:56 A.M.
Donald Trump is a threat to democracy. That was true before an assassination attempt was foiled at his golf course Sunday, and it remains true after. Political violence in general, and assassinating presidential candidates specifically, also poses risks to democracy.
There is no contradiction between these ideas whatsoever. Yet Trump’s supporters have responded to both attempts on his life by muddying the waters, exploiting the near-tragedies with cynical efforts to redefine critiques of Trump’s authoritarian inclinations as violent provocation.
In the wake of the news from Florida, Trump defenders began spreading this line reflexively. Conservative commentator Ben Domenech: “The commentariat insists on owning zero consequences for their constant repetition that Trump is an existential threat whose election will bring bloody fascism, when it’s absolutely obvious it motivated this would-be assassin.” Miranda Devine in the New York Post: “Reckless rhetoric from Dems and media to blame for second Trump assassination attempt.”
Moderates and liberals, who correctly believe in upholding democratic norms, especially nonviolence, might be tempted to understand these arguments as a species of principle. But the effort to rule criticism of Trump’s authoritarianism as dangerous and out of bounds is not motivated by or related to any defense of democracy or nonviolence. It is a purely cynical attempt to foam the runway for the election of a dangerous man.
/snip
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