Over the years, Trump became infamous for his frequent attacks on his many enemies. However, in recent months, his language has become more aggressive, particularly when describing what he would do if he is reelected.
Escalation
“In 2016, I declared: I am your voice,” Trump said in a speech in March 2023. “Today, I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution.”
Step up
Much of Trump’s rhetoric is a direct evolution of what he said years ago. For example, before the 2016 election, he drew criticism for saying, “I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election if I win.”
Crossed the line
Trump continues to claim, without evidence, that the 2020 election was fraudulent. The “retribution” he refers to is against those he believes stole the election from him.
Dangerous words
In November, Trump told supporters that he would “root out” his enemies, who he said “live like vermin within the confines of our country” and “lie and steal and cheat on elections.”
More dangerous words
Trump also claimed immigrants were “poisoning the blood of our country.” He promised to enact “the largest domestic deportation operation in American history” if reelected.
Poor precedent
These comments have been compared to historical racists and fascists like Madison Grant and Adolf Hitler. Biden, for example, slammed Trump’s use of the word “vermin” — a term commonly used by Nazis to describe Jewish people — and said, “D…mn, [Trump] shouldn’t be president.”
Direct promise
“I will appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the United States of America, Joe Biden,” Trump said in a speech in June. “The entire Biden crime family” would be targeted, he promised.
Vague enemies
“I will totally obliterate the deep state,” Trump continued. “We know who they are.” Compare this threatening language to his earlier promises to “drain the swamp” in Washington.
Dictatorial ambitions
In December, Trump made headlines for saying he would only be a dictator for “day one.” He would use the powers to close the southern border and expand oil drilling, he said. “After that, I’m not a dictator.”
Danger to democracy
Critics on both the left and right have used language like this to argue that Trump is a threat to American democracy itself. “What President Trump did [on Jan 6, 2021],” Liz Cheney argued in Jan 2024, “was an assault on the foundations of our constitutional republic. Our nation can survive and recover from policy mistakes. We cannot recover from a president willing to torch the Constitution.”
Serious problem
“Donald Trump stands ready to knife US democracy,” Guardian reporter Lloyd Green wrote in December. “A year ago, he called for terminating the Constitution. He has since announced that if reelected, he wants to weaponize federal law enforcement against his political enemies. He has suggested that Gen Mark Milley, former chairman of the joint chiefs, be executed for fulfilling his duty.”
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