Explain the truth is a weekly series examining what the right wing is currently obsessed with, how it affects politics, and why you need to know about it.
Republican lawmakers have been in overdrive over the past two weeks, criticizing the “No Kings” protests on Saturday. Instead of addressing the protesters’ main concern — President Donald Trump’s numerous abuses of power — Republicans targeted the movement with overblown attacks.
The Republican Party distorts the slogan “No Kings”
House Speaker Mike Johnson He insisted The anti-Trump rallies are evidence of the “hate America” movement and are part of the supposed “pro-Hamas wing” of the Democratic Party. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy complained in an interview with Fox News that the marches would include “paid protesters” and members of the “Antifa” movement.
These descriptions defy reality. The previous “No Kings” protests, which broke out in June, emerged An estimated 4-6 million people They peacefully express their opposition, which is a far cry from the nightmare demagogy of the Republican Party.
The latest round of smears repeats previous Republican arguments portraying their political opposition as terrorists or allied with terrorists.
The smear is not new
Trump loves to use this tactic.
During the 2024 election cycle, Trump did not merely express his opposition to the Democratic Party. Instead, it is He insisted That the “enemy within” the country poses a threat. Trump argued that the ‘enemy within’ was such a big problem that the ‘radical left-wing lunatics’ who were part of it might need to be ‘dealt with’ by the military and National Guard – a preview of His current policy.
Years earlier, during his first term, Trump was promoted The false idea that the public protests against him and investigations into his wrongdoings were the work of the so-called deep state. This theory, derived from fellow conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones, claims that the entrenched bureaucracy opposes his agenda, destabilizes the government, and is cooperating with the Democratic Party and the Progressive movement.
Trump and his aides are not alone in adopting this tactic and this rhetoric.
In 2005, while the United States was deeply involved in the Iraq War, Karl Rove, a senior advisor to then US President George W. Bush, said: A similar charge was made. “Liberals saw the brutality of the September 11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and provide treatment and understanding for our attackers,” Rove said in a speech.
This was meant to describe opposition to the war as providing aid and comfort to the terrorist group Al Qaeda.
In fact, there was No connection Between the Iraqi government and the September 11 attacks, the Middle Eastern country was not In possession Weapons of mass destruction used by the Bush administration to justify war. The fear mongering was a product of misinformation by Rove, Bush and others in the administration.
Smears instead of argument
Equating political opposition with terrorism is part of the Republican scheme to crush dissent and stigmatize those who deviate from GOP orthodoxy.
The party’s strategy against the opposition can also be seen in its efforts to suppress dissent Congressional districts In a way that increases Republican representation in Congress. The same tactic was also on display recently when Trump appointed him Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission He sought silence Comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who regularly mocks Trump.
By invoking terrorism where it does not exist, the Republican Party is openly trying to divert public attention from the opposition’s arguments, without the party having to honestly confront and refute them.
The conservative movement supports violence and falsification
At the same time, the conservative movement often has an element of inauthenticity and extremism associated with it.
In the 2000s, the Tea Party movement aimed to oppose the actions of the Obama administration They are portrayed as being at the grassroots level. But much of it was financed by wealthy Republican donors, such as the Koch brothers, who sought to reduce government oversight of their business empires.
The province, which Trump currently leads, Cuddled regularly Fanatic stunts. And Trump Allied himself With violent groups like the Proud Boys, famous We tell them In 2020 to “stand up and stand ready”.
Republicans I struggled to convince The majority of the public to adopt their extremist agenda. Despite the party’s success in winning the elections. Most people They support the safety net, oppose racism and misogyny, and don’t want the government to intrude into their personal lives.
Instead of working to convince voters of his far-right agenda, Republicans find it easier to paint peaceful pro-democracy protesters as the real terrorists.
But that doesn’t make it true.