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Dear John,
Donald Trump’s language is not just brutal and offensive; he has begun citing themes that are immediate echoes of rhetoric used by Hitler to gather power in pre-war Germany.
In a particularly vitriolic speech Trump made on Veteran’s Day, he turned up the heat notably, vowing that he would “root out” the “radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country.”
The following day, his campaign doubled down on this rhetoric, saying of those who pointed out the similarity to Hitler’s use of the word “vermin” in his antisemitic speeches, that his opponents’ “sad, miserable existence will be crushed.”
Did the TV news networks call him out on this? Barely. Far too often they are still giving Trump a pass on his extremist, hateful rhetoric.
We cannot be desensitized to the fascism inherent in Trump’s dangerous campaign. We must stand vigilant against such unapologetic hate speech, even -- and especially -- as it becomes a commonplace rallying cry for the Republican party.
The major TV news networks need to face public pressure. Sign the petition demanding they stop giving Trump a free pass now.
This is not the only time Trump’s anti-American rhetoric has gone unchallenged.
He recently promised he would use “ideological screening” to turn away any immigrants who don’t like “our religion.” Taking language directly from Mein Kampf, he complained immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country.” Yet most Americans don’t even know he’s said these things, because the major TV news networks have done little to expose and call out these statements, despite their direct connection to fascism.
Trump has, in recent speeches, compared immigrants to fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter; he has called for shoplifters to be shot, drug dealers to be given the death penalty, and even suggested his former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff be executed for treason.
Amping up the violent aspects of his rhetoric, Trump is seeking to create an atmosphere of lawless resentment where murderous acts against his political opponents would be seen by some as patriotic gifts to their leader.
Responsible TV news coverage must expose the history behind these remarks and call out the elephant in the room: the Republican front runner is calling for violence against his critics.
This lack of accountability must stop.
Demand TV news network coverage stop giving Trump a free pass and reflect how dangerous this rhetoric and his campaign truly are to American democracy.
Thank you for helping to hold the line against the further advancement of violent fascist rhetoric in the United States.
Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action
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