Free Form Friday: Trump is coming for me…
Free form Friday is my weekly non-Bowie post. Come back tomorrow for more David Bowie…
—-
The New York Times recently reported that Donald Trump has escalated threats against political opponents,* suggesting he would use the presidency to target those who disagree with him. In a Fox News interview, Trump described Democrats as an “enemy from within” and signaled that the National Guard might be needed to address chaos on Election Day. Trump’s comments mark an unprecedented move by a presidential nominee, as he continues to endorse anti-democratic rhetoric and refuses to commit to a peaceful transfer of power. The story explained, in its sub-headline no less, that “never before has a presidential nominee openly suggested turning the military on Americans simply because they oppose his candidacy.”
That means Trump is going to come after me.
Actually, it didn’t take this late-in-the-day Times story to let me know that I, personally, and people like me are under direct threat. There’s a lot that he’s said over time that leads me to this conclusion. By way of example, take this statement he issued on his social media platform:
“The 2024 Election, where votes have just started being cast, will be under the closest professional scrutiny and, WHEN I WIN, those people that CHEATED will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law, which will include long-term prison sentences so that this Depravity of Justice does not happen again. Please beware that this legal exposure extends to Lawyers, Political Operatives, Donors, Illegal Voters, & Corrupt Election Officials. Those involved in unscrupulous behavior will be sought out, caught, and prosecuted at levels, unfortunately, never seen before in our Country.”
So, to be clear, I am unquestionably and easily identifiable as a donor to Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. I don’t know how to read that statement as not to include me in that specific regard. More broadly, though I have not been acting as a political operative for many years, I could easily be classified by those looking to go after Democratic political operatives as still being counted among their ranks.
If there is somehow an explanation as to how these words don’t actually mean what they appear to mean, I would still think that Donald Trump is going to come after me in some way.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump has promised to go after a wide range of individuals and groups, vowing to prosecute, jail, deport, or otherwise use law enforcement and military action against them. He has targeted high-level political adversaries, including Harris, President Biden, and members of his administration, often accusing them of corruption and criminal activities. Trump has pledged to crack down on undocumented immigrants, promising mass deportations. He has also suggested the creation of concentration camps for millions of undocumented immigrants (though he doesn’t say the word “concentration”). Additionally, Trump has vowed to use the Department of Justice to seek revenge on his political opponents, pursue criminal charges against those involved in what he describes as politically motivated investigations of himself, and target government employees and officials whom he views as part of the “Deep State.” He’s made various threats against media outlets, some legal immigrants, political protesters, states and cities he dislikes, and those suspected of crimes (aside from himself and his co-conspirators) prior to any kind of trial or due process. This is far from a comprehensive list.
In another recent story, the Times reported on individuals Trump already went after during his previous presidency,* ranging from John Kerry to Omarosa. This too was far from a comprehensive list and totally excluded those Trump used this rhetoric to sic his followers on.
Trump has used inflammatory rhetoric to target individuals like Mike Pence, Ruby Freeman, and Shaye Moss, indirectly endangering their lives without formal legal actions. By publicly criticizing them, questioning their integrity, and implying they were part of election-related wrongdoing, Trump created a highly hostile environment where his supporters, inspired by his words, harassed and threatened these individuals. This form of attack relies on stirring anger and mistrust among his followers, potentially inciting violence.
I am personally aware of less well-known people who were blackballed or otherwise punished not by Trump directly, but by his subordinates. One of the things about the president is that the president has a lot of subordinates.
That’s not the only reason I don’t have a false sense of security based on the idea that I’m not “big enough” to be targeted. Fascist and authoritarian regimes often follow a recognizable pattern of repressing critics, beginning with high-profile figures before targeting lesser-known individuals. Leaders such as Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, and more recent examples like Vladimir Putin in Russia and Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, have used this tactic to consolidate power. By first eliminating prominent political opponents, journalists, and intellectuals, these regimes send a clear message of intimidation to society, demonstrating that no one is beyond their reach. Once key figures are silenced, they often extend their repression to activists, academics, and ordinary citizens, creating a climate of fear that stifles dissent. This method ensures that opposition is weakened at all levels, preventing future challenges to the regime’s authority.
This tactic of targeting critics is not limited to fully totalitarian regimes but is also prevalent in countries like Hungary and Turkey, where democratic institutions still exist in form but are functionally undermined by authoritarian practices. Leaders like Viktor Orbán and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have used legal and institutional mechanisms to silence high-profile opposition figures, such as journalists and political leaders, while maintaining the appearance of democratic processes. Once prominent critics are subdued, repression extends to lesser-known individuals, often under the guise of national security or legal enforcement, creating a controlled environment where dissent is suppressed at all levels. By preserving a veneer of democracy, these regimes can justify their actions and maintain international legitimacy, while gradually consolidating power. There’s no mistake that Trump holds out Viktor Orbán in particular as a role model for how he’d govern in a second term.
Going back to the New York Times, yet another article recounted how many Trump supporters don’t actually believe he’s going to do what he’s been promising to do,* and that some support him because they view him as entertaining. This actually reveals the success of another authoritarian tactic—to inspire apathy. These Trump supporters who don’t believe him are indifferent to the real-world consequences of election results. They don’t think Trump means what he says, and presumably don’t think Harris can do what she says. So, it doesn’t matter who the president is; nothing ever changes.
To me, this phenomenon is more reason to think Trump will be able to get away with actually sticking to this particular promise: to turn the mechanisms of government against his perceived enemies, and that this effort will eventually reach me.
It’s interesting to think about what, amidst the swirling stew of lies that pours forth from Trump’s mouth, is worth believing. That he lies about almost everything makes it easier to think his most egregious promises are just bluster. But consider that the vast majority of his lies are either about the description of reality (the 2020 election was stolen, COVID would vanish by Easter 2020) or about something he has no control over (Mexico would pay for his border wall, Russia wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine had he still been president). One of the myriad problems with his repeated, ever-intensifying vows to persecute his political opponents is that he will very much have the power to carry out his pledge.
I’m writing this in part to personalize the consequences of what Trump plans to do as president. If the idea that he’s going to send a “real special prosecutor” after Joe Biden and Kamala Harris seems too remote, but you’re reading this, think instead about the idea of Trump going after me. Because somehow, at some point… he will.
—-
* Click on the bolder words to link to the original Times story.