I & I Editorial BoardThe near-nonstop comparing of Donald Trump, a former president of the United States, to Adolf Hitler has almost become a mainstream media cliche. So should anyone really be shocked someone else has again decided that Trump should take a bullet, just nine weeks after he was shot in the ear? The answer, of course, is no.
When the news came that another “assassination attempt” possibly had taken place against Trump, this time as he unwound from his hectic campaign schedule with a round of golf in Florida, it was disappointing to say the least.
Not a lot was known about Ryan Wesley Routh, the alleged would-be assassin. He was spotted on the golf course armed with an “AK-47”-style rifle by the Secret Service, in what the FBI said “appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Trump.” The Secret Service opened fire, and Routh was arrested after fleeing.
What was behind the apparent attempt this time?
For those of a certain age, this is reminiscent of the 1960s and 1970s, when extremist rhetoric and beliefs led to violence against public figures and politicians of varying political stripes. It was a time of runaway rhetoric, and routine denunciation of police as “pigs” and all politicians as “fascists.”
But today, the unhinged vitriol and hate is directed almost singly toward one candidate, Donald Trump. It’s a wonder there’ve only been two attempts. The question was first raised by American Greatness, in a piece published in July: “Is Left-Wing Trump-as-Hitler Iconography in the Mainstream Media Responsible for the Attempt to Assassinate the 45th President?“
That question bears repeating today.
Let’s say right off the top that we don’t yet know why someone again would want to assassinate Trump. But it seems very likely, at bare minimum, that he (they?) had burning hatred for him. And that hatred was likely stoked by relentless media attacks on Trump, in particular those likening him to Hitler.
It’s become sickeningly common, though it’s gone on now for over eight years.
The hateful name-calling is promulgated by the Big Media, who have taken a vacation from journalistic notions of fairness and truth to run tripe such as this (just before Christmas last year): “Donald Trump’s history with Adolf Hitler and his Nazi writings: ANALYSIS.”
No, it wasn’t a one-off thing. But it seems to be increasing in frequency.
PBS followed up a few days later with: “Trump says he didn’t know his immigration rhetoric echoes Hitler. That’s part of a broader pattern.”
Yet, a bare month before those two gems appeared, the Washington Post informed its readers about “How Trump’s rhetoric compares with Hitler’s.”
In May, the Los Angeles Times put its two-pfennigs in this far-left fever-dream: “Trump and GOP repeatedly echo Nazi and far-right ideology as they aim to retake White House.”
That isn’t all. Not even close.
Indeed, there are so many in recent years that a 2023 piece in American Thinker collected an assortment of the “Trump as Hitler” themed pieces running mostly in mainstream publications, not on obscure web sites. The list was impressive, and also depressing.
“I’m starting to think Donald Trump is sounding like Hitler on purpose“
“Tired of Winning review: Jonathan Karl on Trump as Hitler wannabe“
“How Trump’s rhetoric compares with Hitler’s“
“Accused of Echoing Fascists, Trump Campaign Warns Its Critics Will Be ‘Crushed’“
“Trump threatens to handle the “vermin”: MAGA has got a hold of the Nazi playbook“
“Joe Scarborough Warns Trump Is ‘Going Full-On Hitler’ After Weekend Rhetoric“
“Biden campaign says Trump echoed Hitler with use of word ‘vermin’“
“Trump calling opponents ‘vermin’ draws rebukes from White House, some in GOP“
“Take Trump at his word when he threatens to punish his enemies“
“It’s Official: With ‘Vermin,’ Trump Is Now Using Straight-up Nazi Talk“
“Trump’s Veteran’s Day message draws comparisons to Hitler“
“Retired 4-star general compares Trump loyalists to Hitler’s Nazis“
Get the picture?
No serious person can think Trump is Hitler. But that’s not the point. The point is to make the very name of Trump so poisonous that people will forever link Trump=Hitler in their minds. An Orwellian trick.
It seems obvious that, by their repeated demonizations of a patriotic man whom they despise, the Democrats and their “mainstream” media allies have turned Trump, who was a successful president, into a target of unbridled hate. As we all know, hate doesn’t emerge in a vacuum, and always requires a target. Trump is now the target.
“If you vilify someone as Hitler, a man who killed 6 million Jews in the Holocaust and caused the deaths of 73 million more people who fought him in World War II, it is not a big moral leap to think that someone killing him would be justified,” wrote libertarian syndicated columnist Ron Hart, after July’s attempt on Trump’s life. “It’s louder than a dog whistle; it’s a call to action.”
Given the amount of loathing directed at Trump, it’s remarkable that he’s survived this long. Some other mentally troubled individual out there might soon get the idea that he or she can be a hero by killing the second coming of Hitler. We can only pray that that person’s aim is poor, and that the Secret Service protection does its job well.
— Written by the I&I Editorial Board
Why is this surprising?
President Trump not only has to “watch his back with Iran” (who has put a bounty on him), but also with the scatter-brained idiots in our country who have been brainwashed by the Democratic Party-a nauseating oxymoron if I ever heard one- since 2016 and who has called Trump a fascist and an existential danger to our democracy.
In effect, these Democratic politicians and other left-wing nuts are instigating an assassination of a political figure, and doing it without illegally doing it.
Now we have to deal with institutions (like the FBI, Secret Service and Homeland Security) that are suppose to guard and protect the Democratic Party’s competition in the upcoming election.
Unfortunately, these so-called swamp denizens and supposedly guardians of our liberty are either keystone kops in the making or are actually conscious saboteurs of the only person (in my opinion) who can swing our country to democracy and fair play again.
There have been two assassination attempts in 3 months.
When will this country take notice that there will most likely be-God forbid-more?
And if there is no quick and certain consequences to the assassinators, then as far as I’m concerned not only will President Trump be assassinated, but this country will be too.
You’re blaming the Democrats?
Donald Trump has “nonstop” been calling for violence against Democrats.
Sarah Palin published material with a gunsight’s crosshairs over Gabby Giffords face – then she was shot.
The extreme lies and verbal attacks – mainly from the GOP side – hadn’t happened since the 1800’s until the GOP decided Party is more important than Country.
Not to let facts get in the way of a convenient narrative, but Pres. Trump has never called for violence against Democrats.
Invoking Sarah Palin vis a vis Gabby Giffords is old news and is in an ongoing defamation litigation by the former Alaska Governor against the New York Times. Nice try but not all the people can be fooled all the time.
It’s called a circular firing squad, and you hate filled christian repubicans did it to yourself. Enjoy walking around the rest of your life looking over your shoulder, wondering if one of Trump’s sycophants doesn’t think you’re crazy enough, and decides to use one of the hundreds of millions of guns that your side pushed forever to include in the American tradition.
Many thanks again for destroying the country.
Communists have killed many millions as well. Does calling Kamala a Communist enter the same territory as calling DJT a Nazi?
Republicans as Hitler trope is as old as Ronald Reagan at least, but I will admit it is gone completely off-scale with Trump. It works primarily on people who know neither Hitler nor Trump it requires practiced ignorance to continue. Even worse is the length of time that the infantile anti-Trump tantrum has gone on untreated. People cannot spend nine and a half years irrational and filled with hatred and still be OK. We now have a mentally ill nation.
Trump was a good president and I hope he returns. His big mouth I could care less about. Its his great economy I want and if the mouth comes along with it, so be it.
This is hilarious. The editorial board conveniently omits the fact that Trump’s own running mate, JD Vance, has likened the former president to Hitler. https://issuesinsights.com/2024/09/15/another-assassination-attempt-on-trump-no-surprise-after-years-of-media-likening-him-to-hitler/
Dear Editorial Board: Isn’t this kind of an important piece of information to leave out? “Back in 2016, during his #NeverTrump phase, Ohio Senate candidate and Hillbilly Elegy author JD Vance said Trump was either a ‘cynical asshole’ or ‘America’s Hitler’ in a private message to an old law school classmate.” https://www.vice.com/en/article/jd-vance-trump-messages/
Authorities speak for hours without telling us anything, which encourages speculation and (wild?) rumors.
For one thing, their ground and helicopter-mounted security personnel had 12 hours to locate, and perhaps question, an individual with a long gun hunkered down near a regular Trump route.
(As an interesting aside, this individual was several times in recent years charged, tried and convicted of serious(-sounding) offenses. We should loudly wonder: Did he serve any time in prison? And if not: Why not?)
An alert civilian solved this case. That person was properly praised and the public is profusely encouraged to remain alert.
But, and we should never forget this, in the July very-nearly-successful attemp to kill Trump, several civilians caled the “guardians'” attention to a person on the roof, well within shooting range of their protectee. Why were those reports ignored or followed up in a half-hearted manner?
Calls for additional personnel and, of course, more money are just silly. Instead, how about selecting only the most qualified individuals for jobs which are genuinely the guarantees for the survival of this republic/democracy?
Why?
“Tim Walz called Trump a “fascist” and a “threat to Democracy” who will “put people’s lives in danger.”
They didn’t stop after the 1st assassination try. Both Kamala and “Tampon Tim” have repeatedly called Trump a menace to democracy and someone who will kill people or put them in danger. Walz bothers me as a human being even more than Kamala. She is hardly the 1st ladder climber trading looks and powerful sugar daddy’s clout for favors. While Walz is a creep and a betrayer and a seller of lies of shameless self-advancement.