Title: Trump's Loaded Words and Real-World Impact
Michael D'Antonio reveals that former Pentagon Chief, Mark Esper, confirmed a Wall Street Journal report in an upcoming book, Axios reports. Esper also presented compelling evidence that ex-President Trump concentrated solely on using violence to serve his cause.
Esper recalled his refusal to pressurize the military to pursue such a plan, emphasizing that it was an easy decision not to force the issue. By the same token, Esper also resisted advocating for military suppression of protests, as per the Insurrection Act of 1807.
Is there anything surprising about Esper's account regarding Trump's track record? Trump referred to the protesters in Minnesota 2020 as "thugs" and warned on Twitter, "When looting starts, shooting starts." This echoes the words of a former Miami Police Chief during the 1967 riots, who also used those exact words and added, "It doesn't matter if they accuse us of police brutality."
Trump broached the topic of violence in a political context for the first time when he arrogantly declared, "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters." He even implicitly referred to the use of violence if Hillary Clinton were elected, predicting that her appointees would likely face retaliation from "second amendment people."
Moreover, Trump openly endorsed and encouraged violence outside the gunplay context. He urged his supporters to "beat the crap out" of anyone they believed was throwing a tomato at them. He also vocalized his desire to hit back at a protestor who was removed from one of his rallies, saying, "I want to punch him in the face." Following a protest in St. Louis, Trump complained, "Nobody wants to beat each other up anymore."
Even as a candidate, Trump demonstrated no remorse about alleged violence committed in his name. Two men in 2015 were caught brutally assaulting a homeless Mexican man. Trump initially condemned the incident as a "disgrace," but later found a loophole to backtrack by diffusing responsibility on his supporters, before eventually labeling the violence as "incredibly unfair."
Would anyone have anticipated that the White House would not soften its stance post-Trump's 2016 election victory?
Several sources claim that Trump, while in office, questioned his aides if he could shoot asylum-seekers at the US-Mexico border to deter entry into the country. He flippantly advised police to not be "too nice" to suspects, implying violent tactics. He praised a Congressman who assaulted a reporter, and throughout his presidency, he expressed admiration for violent dictators.
Why would Trump encourage such actions? Possible explanations include an insatiable desire to be perceived as a warrior or hard-nosed leader, as well as a penchant for attention-seeking behaviors.
The idea that Trump might be drawn to violence is not far-fetched, given his self-awareness and propensity for seeking public attention. As he once said in an interview for his biography, "I've always loved fighting, any kind of fighting, even physical fights." However, he failed to provide any examples of such confrontations. Journalists speculated that over-the-top rhetoric might be a way for Trump to communicate with and engage his followers, presenting himself as a "warrior," a "tough guy," even a "tyrant."
Such a notion suggests that Trump might deliberately seek to associate with violence for the sake of being viewed as a warrior or an aggressive leader and striving for public attention. It's also plausible that his behaviour has real-world consequences, such as in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. As Esper and Bender assert, these words have the ability to instigate dangerous situations, potentially serving as a catalyst for the incitement of violence.
