"Now just to deal with the most practical matters, this doesn't sound like a man inclined to enter into bipartisan negotiations to end the current government shutdown, does it? I suppose he could call up Chuck Schumer and tell him it was just a joke, and maybe make a peace offering of vastly increased security for Democratic officeholders who have now been labeled by the most powerful figure in the world as the personification of absolute, ineradicable evil."
"But other than pouring high-octane gasoline on a fire already reaching the rafters after Russell Vought's threats of mass layoffs of furloughed federal employees (at least in "Democrat Agencies," as Trump put it), the president's weird little post will be greeted as gospel truth and a not-so-secret shout-out by two significant elements of the MAGA fringe."
"The first is the QAnon cult, the shockingly large group of subscribers to an elaborate conspiracy theory whereby Trump is secretly battling and will eventually vanquish a cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles who control world events (not to mention America's deep state) and are, among other things, hoarding cures for all major diseases. According to QAnon devotees, Trump is constrained for obscure reasons from going public with this cosmic war he is waging on America's and God's behalf, but he drops hints from time to time that are greeted with jubilation in QAnon circles."
Donald Trump posted on Truth Social labeling Democratic officeholders as the personification of absolute, ineradicable evil. The post escalated partisan rhetoric amid a government shutdown and followed Russell Vought's threats of mass layoffs targeting furloughed federal employees in "Democrat Agencies." The message is likely to be treated as gospel by elements of the MAGA fringe, including QAnon adherents. QAnon believers view Trump as waging a secret cosmic war against a cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles and interpret his hints as confirmation. The post could hinder bipartisan negotiations and increase threats against Democratic officials while energizing conspiracy-driven supporters.
Read at Intelligencer
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