Donald Trump is ramping up his rhetoric, which portrays political opponents and critics as criminals, while leaving lengthy suggestions that he advocates outlawing political speech he deems fraudulent or challenges his claims to power.
In a speech in Aurora, Colorado on Friday, the Republican presidential candidate blasted the immigration system and threw a rhetorical grenade at his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.
“He is a criminal. He is a criminal,” said Trump, who was found guilty 34 criminal cases For falsifying business records in a New York hush money trial. “He really is, if you think about it.”
It’s a pattern of messaging that has long been part of Trump’s stump speeches, but has increased significantly in the 2024 candidacy. In the run-up to the Nov. 5 election, the former president has developed a penchant for arguing that speech he disapproves of is illegal, even if it is protected by the First Amendment.
“60 Minutes” Harris interview questionable cut? “Totally illegal,” Trump wrote On XHe said Harris should be seen better and that CBS’s broadcast license should be revoked.
Harris campaign edits headlines in paid Google ads? “Totally illegal,” he said he wroteGoogle will “pay a big price” for this.
Democrats are working”unlawful concealment” part of his Jan. 6 statement urging protesters to remain peaceful, he claimed this month.
Trump in August he said A crowd in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, said criticism of judges who ruled according to him should be banned. “I believe what they did was illegal,” Trump said. “I believe that they play the role of judges. They constantly criticize our elders – some of our greatest justices and many great judges. … Playing as referees with our referees and referees should be punishable by very serious fines and even more.”
‘It’s out of the autocratic playbook’
An expert who studies authoritarianism and fascism said that Trump’s rhetoric about criminalizing dissent is familiar and could have serious consequences for the country if he is elected president.
“This is out of the autocratic playbook. As autocrats consolidate their power once they are in office, anything that threatens their power or exposes their corruption or disseminates information harmful to them in any way becomes illegal,” says New York historian and professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat. In 2020, the university that wrote the book “Strong Men: From Mussolini to Today”.
“He’s rehearsing in a sense what he’s going to do as head of state, what Orbán did, what Modi did, what Putin did a long time ago,” he said, referring to the leaders of Hungary, India and Russia, respectively. . “Just like there’s a difference of opinion about January 6th because of the brainwashing of who is a patriot and who is a criminal, isn’t there? Similarly, telling the truth in any field – journalists, scientists, even people like me, those engaged in objective investigation, prosecutors, of course, become elements of crime and they should be closed.”
Some Harris voters say Trump is channeling dictators.
“He reminds me of Hitler and his rise to power,” said Pittsburgh resident Dan Geiger. “The more he lies, the more he is accepted by his loyal followers.”
Trump has suggested and sworn that investigations into his conduct are illegitimate under the law revenge against the prosecutors who oversee them. He claimed, without any evidence, that President Joe Biden was leading these prosecutions, even state prosecutions without authority.
After the first disclosure of the New York indictment, Trump he said the prosecutor “LIVED ILLEGALLY” him. But is his 2016 campaign under investigation for ties to Russia? “They illegally espionage about my campaign.”
Trump voters have mixed ideas about revenge
Trump drew boos and boos from a sea of red MAGA-hatted supporters on Wednesday in Scranton, Pennsylvania, as he drew a raucous crowd in Scranton, Pennsylvania, making personal attacks on Harris and talking about the “enemy from within” — government officials he’s clashed with. As an example, he cited U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff of California, who said, “Lock him up!” shout from a supporter.
But some Trump voters told NBC News that they don’t accept revenge-based themes in his campaign, but plan to support him because of concerns about the economy and immigration.
Walter Buckman of Scranton said he supports Trump because of his views on immigration and the economy. But the self-described Catholic is “not quite” in his rhetoric about revenge and achieving equality.
“The way to reconcile with everyone is to change the economy. Even getting it shouldn’t be in the playbook,” he said. “Is revenge a good thing? It’s not a good thing.”
Debbie Hendrix of Pennsylvania, who attended Trump’s rally wearing a “MAGA” hat, said she was excited to vote for Trump for the third time. But she is distracted by even his talk of revenge.
“I don’t agree with that. “I think people like ‘Draining the Swamp,'” he said, but that doesn’t mean going after his critics personally. “I don’t think he’s stooping to their level.”
Sometimes Trump makes a convincing case for illegality. In October 2023, he he said Lawyers in Colorado are seeking to “illegally remove my name from the ballot” on Jan. 6 for his role. fought and won in the United States Supreme Court. He recently said that people caught committing electoral fraud would be prosecuted by overhauling the existing law.
Fetterman: “A fool’s menu—“
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who campaigned for Harris in conservative rural areas, said Trump is no stranger to “weird bullshit” but cautioned that it doesn’t motivate his voters.
“It’s the dumb-shit menu he always says,” Fetterman said. “I don’t pay attention to such things. Most people don’t really take it at face value or anything.”
Anyone concerned about this should vote for Harris, he said, criticizing the “no threats” movement, supporters of perennial Green Party nominee Jill Stein and others who hate Trump but might waste their votes.
“If you’re not voting 100% for Harris, then you’re either directly or indirectly helping Trump,” Fetterman said. “Go ahead and try it again. That’s what happened in 2016 when people voted for that dope Jill Stein.”
Trump has responded to criticism of his authoritarian rhetoric by repeatedly claiming that Democrats are the real fascists and accusing them of “weaponizing” the government against him. His campaign did not respond to messages seeking comment for this article.
If he is elected, can Trump succeed in centralizing power for himself in a system built on checks and balances? This often succeeded in curbing him during his first term.
“That’s a big question,” Ben-Ghiat said, adding that it depends in part on his ability to appoint competent bureaucrats who are effective at enforcing party loyalty, intimidating critics and using the levers of power to further his personal goals.
“It’s about criminalizing dissent,” he said. “There’s a method to his madness that takes people on a journey of indoctrination.”