The political landscape is heating up with ominous warnings and controversial statements regarding the potential return of Donald Trump to the presidency. A notable article in The Washington Post, written by Robert Kagan, husband of Former State Department official Victoria Nuland, suggests that a Trump dictatorship is becoming increasingly inevitable, urging a stark acknowledgment of this possibility.
The article, titled “A Trump dictatorship is increasingly inevitable. We should stop pretending,” has sparked controversy, with some interpreting it as a call to assassinate the former U.S. President. Kagan paints a dire picture, emphasizing that in 13 weeks, Donald Trump could secure the Republican nomination, paving the way for what he perceives as a clear path to dictatorship.
Let’s stop the wishful thinking and face the stark reality: There is a clear path to dictatorship in the United States, and it is getting shorter every day. In 13 weeks, Donald Trump will have locked up the Republican nomination.
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[…] Are we going to do anything about it? To shift metaphors, if we thought there was a 50 percent chance of an asteroid crashing into North America a year from now, would we be content to hope that it wouldn’t? Or would we be taking every conceivable measure to try to stop it, including many things that might not work but that, given the magnitude of the crisis, must be tried anyway?
The piece has triggered strong reactions, with Rep. Matt Gaetz suggesting that it is an implicit endorsement of assassination. Meanwhile, The Atlantic and The New York Times have also published articles warning of a potential “Trump dictatorship,” with The Times speculating that a second Trump term could be more radical than the first.
In response to these articles, some Republican figures, such as Sen. JD Vance and Trump campaign advisers, dismissed the claims as fearmongering and an attempt to legitimize illegal and violent conduct as the election approaches. Others, like Rep. Mike Waltz, accused media outlets of employing scare tactics reminiscent of previous election cycles.
The Trump campaign has categorically rejected these assertions, with spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissing them as another version of the media’s past failed attempts, particularly referring to the Russia collusion hoax. Despite these dismissals, Trump detractors, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, warn of potential illiberal democracy in a second Trump term, drawing parallels to Viktor Orban’s leadership in Hungary.
Amidst the political turmoil, Rep. Liz Cheney has floated the idea of running as a third-party candidate to disrupt Trump’s momentum. She expressed concerns about the grave situation and suggested the need for a new conservative party or a coalition of independents, Republicans, and Democrats to counter what she sees as a dire political moment. The statements and reactions highlight the intense polarization and uncertainty surrounding the political landscape, with differing views on the potential implications of a second Trump term.
