John —
I needed to take some time to process the former president’s statements from over the weekend. There is no sugarcoating it: his words show just how much our democracy remains at risk. And how big of a fight we have ahead of us.
First, Donald Trump spread his usual conspiracy theories, disinformation, and pure bile at a political rally. Attacking me personally, again, but that was the least of it. Here’s what really mattered — he, blatantly, dangled pardons for those who attacked the Capitol.
Then, later in the weekend, he issued a statement that he had expected Mike Pence to overturn the 2020 election. “Unfortunately, he didn’t exercise that power, he could have overturned the election!” Trump made it clear again that he knew he lost and was intent on overturning the results. His only regret about the violent attack on the Capitol appears to be that it did not succeed.
And it’s never been more apparent: We’re not out of the woods yet. Not by a long shot.
It can be said that Trump is saying the quiet part out loud. And that’s true. But he’s never hidden his intentions. Not during the 2016 election. Not during his impeachments. And certainly not now. We ignore him at our peril.
Donald Trump is likely to run for election in 2024, and I fear that our democracy could not take a second Trump presidency. Especially when it barely survived the first. And since then, those who follow him have become even less tethered to reality.
They believe our democracy is a sham. They think our elections are rigged – but only if their side loses. And they believe every word Trump utters. It’s dangerous.
This is the nightmare that will become reality if the GOP wins this November. Because Trump will take that as a green light to run again. We must do everything possible to ensure the GOP does not overtake our razor-thin Blue Majority. If they do, we could see Trump’s goal of overturning an election become reality.
