Wednesday, October 30, 2024

‘Frightening to Consider’: Fears Grow over Trump’s Threats to Political Foes

THE GUARDIAN: Critics alarmed by talk of revenge against Democrats and say second Trump term would pose unprecedented danger

Donald Trump’s extremist attacks on top Democrats as “the enemy from within” and talk of deploying the military against political foes if he wins the election are stark signs Trump will endanger the rule of law in America, say former US justice department officials and scholars.

Trump’s threats – singling out ex-speaker Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff and others as “the enemy from within” and “more dangerous than China [and] Russia” – jibe with his earlier incendiary talk of using a return to the White House to seek “revenge” against political foes led by Joe Biden. He also suggested the military could be used to quell violence at the polls from “radical left lunatics”.

Those comments, along with Trump’s adamant refusal to say clearly he will accept the election results if he is defeated, prompt critics to say Trump poses unprecedented dangers to the US constitution. » | Peter Stone in Washington | Wednesday, October 30, 2024