John,
When Trump orders the National Guard to Los Angeles, we don’t mock him because he’s harmless—in fact, satire becomes more powerful precisely in the face of authoritarian escalation. Here's why:
Ridicule as Resistance to Authoritarianism
- Satire cuts through fear. When leaders show military muscle against their own people, humor punctures their image of invincibility.
- Scholar Peter Gelderloos and campaigns like the “Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army” have used clowning to disrupt oppressive structures. Ivan Marovic, one organizer of the resistance to topple the Serbian dictator Slobodan Milošević, said: “Strategic humor isn’t about making fun—it’s about exposing the absurdity of power that claims to serve the people but often betrays them.”
What Trump Is Doing—and Why It’s Dangerous
- Trump invoked Title 10 to deploy 2,000 California National Guard troops to quash protests in response to ICE raids—an unprecedented move since Rodney King in 1992
- The National Guard has been federalized numerous times in our nation’s history—most notably during the Civil Rights Movement, when it was deployed to protect those demanding justice from violent white supremacists trying to stop them.
Why Satire Still Matters When Tanks Roll In
- Clowns don’t distract—they defuse. They shift the narrative from fear to defiance, reminding us that power is supposed to serve the people, not intimidate them.
- It's won across the globe. Protest movements in Russia, Serbia, and the U.S. have used humor to expose the absurdity of oppressive regimes
So, Yes—We Call Him a Clown to Stand Up, Not Bow Down
- A leader who treats democracy like a spectacle deserves to be called out—it’s a response to behavior: ordering military force against people exercising their rights.
- Labeling it clownish calls attention to the theatrics of this military intervention in Los Angeles, the week before the $100 million military parade-themed birthday he is throwing for himself.
Bottom Line
When authoritarianism shows its face, we don’t cower. We shine light—and sometimes that light is a spotlight on smeared-on orange makeup. Ridicule isn’t trivial; it’s courageous. And right now, that courage might be the best weapon we have.
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