8) Trump Has Encouraged Violence

Reason #8 to Vote Blue on Nov 5

On Saturday, July 13 an attempt was made to kill former President Trump during an outdoor rally in rural western Pennsylvania. The gunman’s fire hit Trump’s ear, but he is apparently safe. Unfortunately, one bystander was murdered and two others critically injured. I hate violence of all types and what happened at the rally was very, very wrong.

But I am also upset at the GOP messaging, that Democrats and Biden are responsible. They emphasize that too much criticism of Trump– especially constantly referring to him as a dictator would understandably cause people to want to harm Trump. Hogwash. Trump himself has made the statements about retribution, being dictator for a day, etc… that have moved this topic to the front. A BIG increase in Trump power is a Trump plan. (More on this tomorrow.)

My concern is that Trump himself has contributed to our growing culture of violence over a long period of time. Here are just a few examples:

Feb 2020: In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on the day of the Iowa caucuses, for instance, he told audience members he would pay their legal fees if they engaged in violence against protesters.
“If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would you? Seriously, OK? Just knock the hell … I promise you I will pay for the legal fees. I promise, I promise,” the future president said on Feb. 1, 2016.
At a Las Vegas rally later that month, he said security guards were too gentle with a protester. “He’s walking out with big high-fives, smiling, laughing,” Trump said. “I’d like to punch him in the face, I’ll tell you.”
A similar situation unfolded at a rally that month in Warren, Michigan.
“Get him out,” he said of a protester. “Try not to hurt him. If you do, I’ll defend you in court. Don’t worry about it.”
On March 9, 2016, as a protester was being escorted out of a rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina, he was sucker-punched by another attendee.

Jul 2017: In a speech to police officers in New York, Trump encouraged them to be rough with people they were arresting. “Please don’t be too nice.”

Oct 2018: Trump publicly praised Montana’s then-Rep. Greg Gianforte (R) — the state’s current governor — for previously assaulting a reporter. “Any guy that can do a body slam, he is my type!” Trump said.

To be clear, Gianforte was arrested for this assault. He actually pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and paid a $385 fine, completed 40 hours of community service, 20 hours of anger management training, wrote an apology letter and donated $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists, according to the Associated Press. To understand what Trump is praising, watch this video:

Apr 2020: The president tweeted his support of Michiganders, Minnesotans and Virginians protesting against restrictions, saying in separate all-caps tweets: “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!; LIBERATE MINNESOTA!; LIBERATE VIRGINIA, and save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege!”
To many people, the exhortation to “LIBERATE!” is much like the word “REVOLT!” It suggests people’s liberty is restricted and one must overthrow the enemy. Including mention of the 2nd Amendment further suggests action by a “militia.” Trump carefully codes his public words but the meaning is clear to those inclined to take violent action.
When protesters, some armed, breached the state capitol in Lansing, Michigan, later that month, Trump tweeted that Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer needed to make a deal with them.
“The Governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire,” Trump wrote on Friday. “These are very good people, but they are angry. They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal.”

Jun 2020: Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper wrote in his memoir A Sacred Oath that when demonstrators were filling the streets around the White House following the death of George Floyd, Trump said to him: “Can’t you just shoot them? Just shoot them in the legs or something?”

Sep 2020: Trump lauded law enforcement officers for killing Michael Forest Reinoehl, a self-described Antifa member suspected of killing a right-wing activist the previous month. “That’s the way it has to be. There has to be retribution,” Vox reported.

Sep 2020: When offered the chance to unequivocally condemn white supremacist violence during the first presidential debate in 2020, Trump failed to do so, instead telling the far-right Proud Boys that they should “stand back and stand by.”

Jan 2021: At the rally before the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, Trump told supporters, among other things, “you’ll never take back our country with weakness.”