"The Trumpies responded the only way they know how: by trolling. Taking their cues from House Speaker Mike Johnson, one elected GOP figure after the next denounced the protesters for participating in "Hate America" rallies and the Democrats for being a party dominated by "Marxism." GOP figures took to the airwaves to accuse marchers of supporting Hamas supporters, embracing terrorism, and being paid by shadowy liberal funders to show up and condemn Trump."
"In California, "War" Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance presided over a display of Marine might-complete with amphibious landings, military airplane flyovers, and rounds of live ammunition fired over Interstate 5, which forced California to shut down the busiest north-south artery in the state for several hours. Governor Gavin Newsom called the display a "vanity project." But in cities all around that vanity project, protesters refused to be intimidated, even holding a small No Kings rally at the entrance to Camp Pendleton itself."
"The military theatrics weren't restricted to the shores of California. In Texas and Virginia, GOP governors seeking to curry favors with the White House pre-emptively activated thousands of National Guardsmen, including Rapid Reaction Forces and Non-Lethal Weapons Platoons, to deal with what they clearly hoped would be a violent anarchic uprising. Governor Greg Abbott, never one to turn down the opportunity to throttle free speech, helpfully explained that the state had received word of a "planned antifa-linked demon"
Millions of citizens marched across the United States to protest Donald Trump's increasingly authoritarian presidency. GOP leaders and media figures denounced the protesters, labeling them as participants in "Hate America" rallies, agents of "Marxism," or supporters of terrorism, and alleged they were paid by liberal funders. The White House responded dismissively with "Who cares?" In California, senior officials staged Marine amphibious landings, flyovers, and live ammunition over Interstate 5, prompting a temporary shutdown and criticism as a "vanity project." Protesters continued demonstrations, including a No Kings rally at Camp Pendleton, while governors in Texas and Virginia activated National Guard units and rapid response forces to prepare for potential unrest.
Read at The Nation
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