Trump Risks Lives in Order To Stoke a Culture War

In a jaw-dropping speech that amounted to a culture war bonfire, Trump used the backdrop of Mount Rushmore to characterize BLM protesters as a nefarious left-wing mob that intends to "end America." Those opponents, he argued, are engaged in a "merciless campaign to wipe out our history, defame our heroes, erase our values, and indoctrinate our children."

With nary a face mask in the crowded audience, Trump minimized the dangers of the pandemic but instead expressed more concern for the safety of statues than of the American people."Angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of our founders, deface our most sacred memorials and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities," Trump said.

“This movement is openly attacking the legacies of every person on Mount Rushmore,” Trump said.

“We will not be terrorized, we will not be demeaned, and we will not be intimidated by bad, evil people,” Trump added. “It will not happen.”

Repeatedly using vague pronouns like "they" and "them," Trump sought to play on the fears of a minority -- that appears to be shrinking, according to polls -- who view the rise of Black Lives Matter as a threat to the historical dominance of White people. He described the goals of protesters who are attempting to right the wrongs of history as "alien to our culture, and to our values."

"We will expose this dangerous movement, protect our nation's children, end this radical assault and preserve our beloved American way of life," Trump said. He mysteriously described those who would tear down statues of racist leaders from the past as "a new far left fascism that demands absolute allegiance." "Make no mistake. This left-wing cultural revolution is designed to overthrow the American Revolution," he added.

 

But even Trump’s brutally dark and divisive speech was an also ran to what was happening down the road. That’s where National Guard forces were threatening a group of Lakota protesters. In the process, they committed an act recognized as a war crime around the world.

 

As Indian Country Today reports, more than 100 “treaty defenders” were among the protesters along the road leading up to the Rushmore carvings. For much of the afternoon, police held them aside to allow Trump supporters to climb the mountain. That allowed the epic sight of Trump’s white followers shouting “go home” at Native American leaders as they protested Trump’s presence on their sacred land, the desecration of the mountain, and the breach of the treaty that awarded the area to the Lakota “forever.”

 

The National Guard personnel arrived via Red Cross-marked vehicle to join the blockade of the protesters.  The use of medical vehicles to disguise the movement of troops is a violation of the Geneva convention.  As was obvious during last month's DC protests,  American citizens are not being awarded the rights that enemies get during war.  Meanwhile, right up the hill, Trump was claiming there is a “merciless campaign to wipe out our history.” And he should know, because he’s leading that campaign.