Escaping Trump’s Revenge
They’re also concerned about the apparent willingness of Trump’s followers to resort to violence against his opponents.
A third of Republicans agree with the statement that “true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country.” Among Republicans with a favorable view of Trump, 41% now agree that violence may be necessary. (By contrast, 22% of independents and 13% of Democrats agree.)
“It only takes one crackpot, like the guy who tried to kill Paul Pelosi,” one former lawmaker told me.
I never thought this nation would get to a point where critics and opponents of a potential United States president begin to wonder whether to leave the country to keep themselves and their families safe. That’s standard for critics of bloodthirsty dictators like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, but in America?
Elizabeth Becker asks, rhetorically: “Is the United States facing a situation so dangerous that you would be foolish if you didn’t have a backup plan? Is it hyperbole to imagine the country sliding into authoritarian rule that would unleash violence, retribution, and repression?”
I hope not. But the mere fact the question is being posed is itself a frightening commentary on where we’ve come — and may be heading.
Every American, including Jim McDermott, has a right to live where they feel safe, of course. And if they can afford a “backup plan,” they may be wise to consider one.
But I hope people with Jim’s principles and abilities — and Nikki Haley’s tenacity — remain here to defend America against Trump’s threats to democracy, even if he’s defeated in November.
