Trump doesn’t just want to blame things on partisanship. He’s making an authoritarian argument.
First he called Republican FBI agents “Democrats”. Now he’s calling Republican whistleblowers “Never-Trump”.
He’s redefining partisan as anyone who tries to hold him accountable. /1
First he called Republican FBI agents “Democrats”. Now he’s calling Republican whistleblowers “Never-Trump”.
He’s redefining partisan as anyone who tries to hold him accountable. /1
Trump started up this attack on Never Trumpers by calling them “human scum” and “dangerous for our Country”.
His press secretary not only defended these words - she applied them to literally everyone who opposes him. /2
slate.com/news-and-polit…
His press secretary not only defended these words - she applied them to literally everyone who opposes him. /2
slate.com/news-and-polit…
So according to Trump and the WH, everyone in the country that doesn’t support him - but especially the law enforcement, intelligence and diplomacy staff testifying against him - are human scum that present a danger to America.
Do we hear how radical that is? /3
Do we hear how radical that is? /3
Trump isn’t just claiming he did nothing wrong, he’s saying anyone who tries to hold him accountable to the law is a threat to the country.
This is how authoritarians talk.
This how no one but authoritarians talk. /4
This is how authoritarians talk.
This how no one but authoritarians talk. /4
“[Trump’s] ‘human scum’ tweet bears noting. First of all, it is quite simply the language of tyrants and those who aspire to be tyrants.” /5
newyorker.com/news/letter-fr…
newyorker.com/news/letter-fr…
Authoritarians want to be seen as synonymous with the country. They divide citizens into supporters and opponents. Opponents get punished, and called traitors and enemies of the people.
This is what Trump’s doing when he accuses whistleblowers of being Never Trump. /6
This is what Trump’s doing when he accuses whistleblowers of being Never Trump. /6
That’s the context that makes this line of questioning dangerous. They’re arguing on an aspiring tyrant’s terms instead of sticking to facts. /7
The evidence against Trump is overwhelming and still piling up. He’s going to be impeached. He’s down in the polls. Which means he’s a cornered pathological narcissist. With the DOJ, GOP and Fox News in his corner. /8
We’re at a tipping point. And the mainstream media is still refusing to treat his authoritarianism as front page news. It’s up to us to push this thing the way it needs to go. We need talk to our friends, relatives, and co-workers about authoritarianism. /9
I get it, talking about authoritarianism can be awkward. But not quite as awkward as living in an authoritarian regime. /10
