Trump wants the military to target Americans who oppose him

Donald Trump has proposed a fascist plan to use military forces against US citizens who oppose him on Election Day.

“I think the bigger problem is the enemy within,” the former president told Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo when she asked if he expected “mayhem on Election Day” from immigrants. “We have some very bad people, some sick people, radical left-wing lunatics…” And it should be easily handled by the National Guard if necessary or, if really necessary, by the military.”

Throughout his campaign, Trump has laid out a dystopian vision for America in which the military uses force to detain and deport immigrants, suppress protests and target criminals. He has used fascist, violent language and recently reiterated his vow to be a “dictator” if elected “one day.”

At a rally in Iowa last year, Trump promised to use federal forces to “take crime out of our cities.” He went on to say that Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco were “crime dens” run by Democrats. As Rolling Stone During his time in the White House, Trump was reportedly fascinated by the idea of ​​carrying out mass executions against gang members and drug lords.

The former president also said he may send “hundreds of thousands” of troops to close the southern border and set up immigration detention centers. He has threatened to order the military to carry out mass deportations, which could lead to large public demonstrations.

“I expect massive civil disobedience and then violence if Trump decides to use the military to suppress him,” said Michael Klarman, a Harvard law professor and executive power expert Rolling Stone last month.

In private emails from a Trump-affiliated group obtained by The New York TimesSupporters discussed the idea of ​​deploying troops to stop “unrest” by protesters.

“I would definitely deploy the National Guard if the police were unable to stop the protests,” Trump said Time magazine in April.

During his presidency, Trump suggested that troops would shoot protesters and undocumented immigrants.

The Insurrection Act of 1807 grants the president broad authority to use military forces to quell unrest in emergencies. “It's a huge blank check, it's easy to abuse, it's easy to imagine it being abused,” Jack Goldsmith, a law professor at Harvard University and director of the Presidential Reform Project, told NPR.

In response to Trump's comments, Ian Sams, senior spokesman and senior adviser to Harris-Walz 2024, wrote in a statement: “Donald Trump suggests that his fellow Americans are worse 'enemies' than foreign adversaries, and he says he would use the military against them.” Given his vow to be a dictator on “day one,” calling for the “termination” of the Constitution and planning to surround himself with sycophants who will give him unchecked, unprecedented power when he returns to office, this should worry every American Who cares about their freedom and safety?

“What Donald Trump is promising is dangerous, and his return to office is simply a risk Americans cannot afford,” the statement concluded.

Other Democrats — including Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Jamie Raskin — have worked to pass legislation that would reform the law and impose restrictions. But if Trump wins in November, it could already be too late.

Historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat told NBC News that Trump's threats to curb dissent “do not fall within the autocratic plan.”

“As autocrats consolidate their power once they are in office, anything that threatens their power, exposes their corruption or publishes information that harms them in any way becomes illegal,” Ben-Ghiat said.

“He's actually rehearsing, in a way, what he would do as head of state, what Orban is doing, Modi is doing, Putin has been doing for a long time,” she added, naming the dictatorial leaders of Hungary, India and Russia of whom Trump has praised effusively.

This story has been updated to include a statement from the Harris-Walz campaign.