Fox News has floated the idea of sentencing anyone prosecuting Trump to death. This as right wing terror is spreading across the US.
Notice: We understand that the collapse of America can be distressing to some American readers, but help is available. If you are suffering from a mental health crisis, you can call 988 to talk to someone.
When electoral disaster struck the US with a victory for convicted felon, Donald Trump, many across the United States were shocked at the results and began fearing for everything that they held dear. Indeed, we’ve already seen a potential FCC nominee harbour plans to kill free speech and end the open internet – punctuating the likelihood that many of the fears of what a Trump administration could bring are seemingly justified.
By Friday, it seems that the evil black tendrils of fascism is already seeping into every element of American society. What is probably remarkable here is how quickly pure evil has started taking over America. Still, many American’s are undeterred and feel they can fight back against the tide of evil that is heading their way. One of the ways in which some have suggested fighting is throwing down the gauntlet of legal challenges despite Trump controlling the US Supreme Court. At the very least, the thinking seems to go, that the agenda of fascism could be slowed down.
Unfortunately, it seems that the far right is already pushing back against this idea by threatening to kill anyone who even thinks of it. Earlier this week, a Fox News host suggests that all those prosecuting Trump should receive death sentences. From Huffington Post:
The hosts of Fox News’ “The Five” on Thursday talked about capital punishment for the prosecutors in the criminal cases against now-President-elect Donald Trump.
“A lot of the people that were on this that wanted it so badly, how are they going to survive? Do you think they need therapy?” asked Greg Gutfeld.
“Yes, they definitely need therapy — and maybe also the death penalty?” replied Dana Perino.
Gutfeld agreed, saying: “Yes, I think the death penalty.”
This really speaks to the mindset of the far right: you either support Trump in every way or we kill you, end of story. It’s bloodthirsty and completely psychotic, but that’s how open they are with their beliefs these days. Obviously, in a normal society, such comments should be condemned without hesitation, but that simply isn’t where America is at this point. The far right have long believed in the power of killing fellow American’s and this is just the latest manifestation of that belief. These are the kinds of monsters that are in the process of seizing control of America.
Of course, this isn’t just a one off incident, either. Reports have already come in saying that text messages being sent to people in 20 states are suggesting that people are going to come and round up and enslave people of colour. From CBS:
Officials and universities in a growing number of U.S. states are condemning racist text messages that were sent to Black residents this week. The messages, which began appearing Wednesday, were received by people in at least 20 states and the District of Columbia, CBS News has found.
There were a number of variations of the messages using similar language, telling the recipient they had been “selected for cotton picking” or to become “a slave.” All of the texts included instructions, times and dates to “be ready” and references to being picked up in a van. Some included the recipient’s name or general location, according to people who received the texts and screenshots reviewed by CBS News.
In a statement, the FBI said it was aware of “the offensive and racist text messages sent to individuals around the country” and said it is in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson condemned the messages and said they represent an “alarming increase in vile and abhorrent rhetoric.”
It isn’t just people of colour who are the target of far right campaigns of terror. Women have also been subjected to the same kind of terror. From New Republic:
The immediate aftermath of Donald Trump’s presidential election win is already a bad omen for women and minorities across the nation, who within less than 48 hours have found themselves the subjects of hate campaigns designed to belittle and marginalize them.
“Your body, my choice. Forever,” posted white supremacist, Hitler fan, and far-right political pundit Nick Fuentes hours before the race had even been called in Trump’s favor.
On X (formerly Twitter), supporters of the “grab ’em by the pussy” rapist, convicted adulterer, Jeffrey Epstein confidant, and proud abortion rights destroyer reveled in their own threats against women, openly celebrating what they described as an onslaught of rape on the horizon.
“Women threatening sex strikes like LMAO as if you have a say,” wrote streamer Jon Miller, who later noted that he had successfully removed a community note from the viral post, allowing him to “profit from it.”
A text campaign—and obvious hate crime—issued a threat to students of color across the nation, claiming the recipients had been “selected” as “house slaves” and were due to appear at plantations.
While some have hope that law enforcement could get involved, that could be difficult if we are talking about the Department of Justice. According to reports also surfacing, the Trump administration in waiting is already looking at transforming that law enforcement agency to go after anyone seen as a political rival. From NBC:
A firebrand legal adviser to the president-elect and a conservative lawyer under consideration for the post of attorney general appear to be setting the stage for investigations and prosecutions of Donald Trump’s legal adversaries, including special counsel Jack Smith and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The threats come as Trump campaign aides say that the president-elect considers his choice for attorney general to be his most important single appointment.
Over the last several days, Mike Davis, an outspoken conservative lawyer who is advising the Trump transition on Justice Department issues, has said in interviews that Smith belongs in prison and that James could be prosecuted.
“I dare you to try to continue your lawfare against President Trump in his second term,” Davis, a Republican lawyer who often uses provocative language, said during an appearance on the podcast of pro-Trump influencer Benny Johnson.
“Listen here, sweetheart,” Davis continued, addressing James. “We’re not messing around this time, and we will put your fat ass in prison for conspiracy against rights. I promise you that.”
Fox News is also suggesting that Trump should amend the constitution so he could at least have a third term. From a Media Matters transcript:
HARRIS FAULKNER (ANCHOR): I had forgotten how much they had thrown at him until just this moment, I mean I hadn’t been focused on that in the last 10 days or so. But when you look at it stacked like that, and add onto that Letitia James, the attorney general of New York, who said just this week she plans to go after him. She campaigned on trying to get Trump, what do you make of all of it?
TREY GOWDY (FOX HOST): Keep talking, keep doing it. That’s exactly why you got hammered on Tuesday night. Keep doing that. Keep using our justice system as a political weapon and he may, who knows, they may amend the constitution and let him serve a third term. We may get a super majority in the House and the Senate if these coastal elite liberals continue their thought process when it comes to our justice system.
I think what is stunning is just how far the US has sunk merely a week after Trump won the presidency. It really puts into question the viability of fighting for free speech within the borders of the US. When any criticism of Trump, regardless of legitimacy, risks you landing in a prison cell or worse, it really tests anyone’s resolve to stand up for basic human rights, let alone digital rights. Thankfully, I don’t live in the US, so I have that going for me… which is nice.
Notice: We understand that the collapse of America can be distressing to some American readers, but help is available. If you are suffering from a mental health crisis, you can call 988 to talk to someone.
The Notice for for dialing 988 feels condescending and tone-deaf (“America is collapsing but help is available!”) rather than helpful. Especially combined with the “Thankfully I don’t live in the U.S.” at the end there.
Those notices have been added because I’ve already seen one person actually contemplating suicide over the political situation in the US on social media. This is NOT something I am even going to mess around with. Sugar coating the situation in the US does no one any favours, but at the same time, the situation in the US is absolutely devastating and can be a bit much for some readers. This was the only balance that could be struck here that seemed reasonable.