AGAINST POLITICAL
OPPONENTS
From 'Lock her up' to 'enemy from within' to military violence
Timeline · Case Studies · Stochastic Terrorism
The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.— George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796
In a functioning democracy, political opponents are rivals -- fellow citizens with different ideas about how to govern. Under Trump, they are enemies to be jailed, silenced, or destroyed. The rhetoric documented on this page traces an arc from the relatively conventional nastiness of campaign insults to something far more dangerous: the explicit framing of Democratic political opponents as criminals, traitors, and "enemies from within" who should be dealt with by the military.
This is not hyperbole. Trump has publicly called for the imprisonment of Hillary Clinton, suggested "Second Amendment people" could "do something" about her judicial appointments, used the word "vermin" to describe opponents -- a term with direct Nazi-era precedents -- and told a rally audience that the "enemy from within" should be handled by the National Guard or "if really necessary, by the military," specifically naming Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff.
The consequences of this rhetoric are documented and deadly: 16 pipe bombs mailed to Democrats by a devoted Trump supporter, an armed mob at the Capitol chanting "Hang Mike Pence," over 1,000 election workers forced to quit under death threats, and a 400% increase in threats against members of Congress.
Chronological
Timeline
This timeline documents Trump's systematic escalation from political attacks to violent rhetoric against Democrats and anyone who opposes him. Each entry includes the exact date, platform, and context.
2015-2016
Building the Foundation of Violent Rhetoric
Rally Violence Begins
'Get him out of here!' 'I'd like to punch him in the face, I'll tell you.' First explicit call for violence at rally against protesters. Las Vegas rally.
Promising to Pay Legal Fees for Violence
'Knock the crap out of them, would you? Seriously. I promise you, I will pay for the legal fees.' Trump promises to pay legal fees for supporters who commit violence. Nevada rally.
Endorsing Supporter Violence
'Part of the problem... is nobody wants to hurt each other anymore.' Trump laments that people don't want to be violent anymore. St. Louis rally.
'Second Amendment People'
'If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is.' Widely interpreted as suggesting gun owners could assassinate Clinton. Secret Service spoke with Trump campaign.
'Lock Her Up' -- Threatening to Jail Opponent
'If I win, I am going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor... Because you'd be in jail.' Second presidential debate. Unprecedented in American democracy: threatening to imprison political opponents.
2017-2018
Weaponizing Presidential Power
CNN Wrestling Violence Video
Trump tweets video of himself body-slamming and punching person with CNN logo. President tweets video depicting violence against media.
Calling for NFL Players to Be Fired
'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now!' Trump targets peaceful protesters (predominantly Black athletes) with demands for punishment. Alabama rally.
Praising Body-Slamming Reporter
'Any guy that can do a body slam, he's my kind of guy.' About Gianforte assaulting Guardian reporter. Two weeks before pipe bombs to critics.
Pipe Bomb Campaign -- 16 Targets
16 pipe bombs mailed to: Obama, Clinton, Biden, Soros, CNN, Holder, Maxine Waters, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, De Niro, Clapper, Steyer. Perpetrator Cesar Sayoc: van covered in Trump stickers. Trump blamed media for 'anger.'
2019-2020
Impeachment and Escalation
Suggesting Whistleblower Execution
'You know what we used to do in the old days when we were smart? Right? With spies and treason, right? We used to handle them a little differently than we do now.' Trump suggests whistleblower should be executed. Leaked audio from private event.
Adam Schiff 'Treason'
'Arrest for Treason?' Trump calls for arrest of House Intelligence Committee Chairman for constitutional oversight duty. Schiff receives death threats, requires security detail.
'LIBERATE' Tweets -- Inciting Armed Protests
'LIBERATE MICHIGAN!' 'LIBERATE MINNESOTA!' 'LIBERATE VIRGINIA!' Trump incites armed protests against Democratic governors. Armed militias storm Michigan Capitol; later, group plots to kidnap and execute Gov. Whitmer.
Michigan Kidnapping Plot -- Trump Continues Attacking Victim
FBI arrests 13 people planning to kidnap Gov. Whitmer, put her on 'trial' for 'treason,' and execute her. Trump's response: leads crowd in 'Lock her up' chants about Whitmer at Michigan rally.
Nov 2020 - Jan 2021
"Stop the Steal" and January 6
Election Night: The Big Lie Begins
'Frankly, we did win this election... This is a fraud on the American public.' Trump begins 'Big Lie' with no evidence. Sets stage for two months of escalating rhetoric leading to violence.
Systematic Attack on Election Workers
Trump personally names election workers, calls them criminals. Targets: Brad Raffensperger, Ruby Freeman, Shaye Moss, Michigan and Arizona officials. Consequence: death threats, armed protesters at homes, mass resignations. Freeman went into hiding for months.
'Will Be Wild!'
'Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!' Trump calls supporters to DC for day Congress certifies election. Extremist groups immediately begin organizing, discussing weapons and violence.
Raffensperger Phone Call
'I just want to find 11,780 votes... That's a criminal offense. That's a big risk to you.' Trump pressures Georgia Secretary of State to 'find' votes. Indicted August 2023.
'Fight Like Hell' -- January 6 Attack
'If you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore.' Mob attacks Capitol: 5 dead, 140+ police injured. Built gallows, chanted 'Hang Mike Pence.' Trump's response when told Pence was in danger: 'So what?'
'We Love You, You're Very Special'
Trump finally tells rioters to leave hours after attack began, but tells them he loves them and they're special. Validates their violence while technically asking them to stop.
2021-2024
Exile, Revenge, and Return
Calls for Milley's Execution
'This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!' Trump calls for execution of Chairman of Joint Chiefs for following constitutional chain of command.
FBI Cincinnati Attack After Mar-a-Lago Search
Trump supporter Ricky Shiffer attacks FBI office day after Mar-a-Lago search. Posted on Truth Social about 'call to arms.' Killed in shootout with police.
'Vermin' Speech
'We pledge to root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country.' 'Vermin' language directly echoes Hitler and Mussolini.
'Enemy from Within' -- Military Against Democrats
'The enemy from within... radical left lunatics. It should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military.' Specifically names Pelosi and Schiff as enemies requiring military action.
Cheney: 'Nine Barrels Shooting at Her'
'Let's put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her, OK? Let's see how she feels about it, when the guns are trained on her face.' Explicit firing squad imagery about former Republican ally.
2025-2026
Second Term: The Rhetoric Becomes Policy
ActBlue Investigation Ordered
Trump directs DOJ to investigate ActBlue, the primary Democratic fundraising platform, while ignoring equivalent irregularities on Republican WinRed. ActBlue calls it an 'oppressive use of power.' The selective targeting of Democratic infrastructure -- while leaving Republican equivalents untouched -- transforms federal law enforcement into a partisan weapon.
Prosecute Democrats for Iran Leak
Trump posts 'The Democrats are the ones who leaked information on Iran. They should be prosecuted!' Provides no evidence for the claim. Later suggests going after reporters' sources as well, extending the threat from political opponents to the press that covers them.
Accidental Bondi Message: 'Guilty as Hell'
Trump accidentally posts a private message intended for Attorney General Pam Bondi: 'What about Comey, Schiff, Leticia??? They're all guilty as hell.' The message reveals the president personally directing prosecutorial decisions. Within weeks: Comey indicted (Sep 25), Letitia James indicted (Oct 9), John Bolton indicted (Oct 16). A judge later dismisses all cases -- but the pattern is clear: Trump names targets, DOJ acts.
Racist AI Deepfake of Schumer and Jeffries
Hours after meeting Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries at the White House, Trump posts an AI-generated deepfake video depicting Jeffries wearing a sombrero with mariachi music and Schumer speaking in a stereotyped fake voice. The president deploys racist caricatures of the two highest-ranking Democrats in Congress as entertainment for his base.
'SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, Punishable by DEATH'
Trump posts three messages calling for the execution of six Democratic military veteran lawmakers -- Sens. Slotkin and Kelly, Reps. Crow, Deluzio, Goodlander, and Houlahan -- for posting a video stating military members can refuse illegal orders. Sen. Slotkin reports receiving approximately 1,000 threats. A supporter reposts: 'Hang them George Washington would.' The president of the United States calls for the death of six sitting members of Congress for exercising their First Amendment rights.
Reuters: 470+ Retribution Targets
Reuters documents more than 470 people and organizations targeted by Trump for retribution -- more than one per day since taking office. The investigation identifies 247 named individuals, 462 punitive actions, and confirms that 17 people from Kash Patel's 'enemies list' have faced government action. The scale of systematic retaliation is unprecedented in American presidential history.
Hegseth Censures and Cuts Sen. Kelly's Pay
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cuts retired Navy Captain Mark Kelly's military retirement pay as punishment for participating in the 'illegal orders' video. The Pentagon weaponizes military benefits to retaliate against a sitting U.S. senator for protected political speech. A federal judge blocks the punishment.
Grand Jury Refuses to Indict 6 Democrats
Trump's DOJ attempts to indict the six lawmakers under a sedition statute for the 'illegal orders' video. A grand jury refuses to return indictments -- prosecutors fail to convince a single juror. A former federal prosecutor says: 'No competent lawyer could have concluded this protected speech constituted a felony.' The system holds, but the attempt itself -- using federal prosecution to punish protected speech -- is the damage.
Omar and Tlaib: 'Institutionalized' / 'Send Them Back'
The day after his State of the Union address, Trump calls Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib 'LUNATICS' with 'bulging, bloodshot eyes' who 'should be institutionalized.' He then adds: 'We should send them back from where they came.' Omar is a naturalized U.S. citizen who fled Somalia as a refugee. Tlaib was born in Detroit. The language echoes Trump's 2019 'go back' attacks and the racist 'send her back' chants he encouraged at rallies.
Democrats: 'The Greatest Enemy America Has'
Trump posts on Truth Social that Democrats are 'the greatest enemy America has' -- greater than any foreign adversary. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries responds: 'Donald Trump just called more than half of America the enemy. That's not strength. That's the language of a dictator.' The statement escalates beyond 'enemy from within' to explicitly ranking fellow Americans as the nation's top threat -- above hostile foreign powers, above terrorism, above any external force.
The chronological record makes one thing unavoidable: there is a direct line from Trump's rhetoric to real-world violence. The pipe bomber covered his van in Trump stickers. The Michigan kidnapping plotters were galvanized by Trump's "LIBERATE MICHIGAN" tweets. The January 6 attackers cited Trump's speech that morning. The FBI Cincinnati attacker posted about a "call to arms" on Truth Social the day after the Mar-a-Lago search. In each case, the perpetrators used Trump's own language and cited his words as justification.
"If you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore.
— Donald Trump, January 6, 2021 -- hours before the Capitol attack
Case Studies
Detailed analysis of how Trump's rhetoric against specific targets escalated from insults to real-world violence.
Phase 2: "She should be in jail" -- criminal accusations
Phase 3: "Second Amendment people" could "do something" -- violent suggestion
Phase 4: Years of "enemy" rhetoric
Phase 5: Cesar Sayoc mails pipe bomb to Clinton's home (2018)
Phase 6: Trump blames media, never stops "Lock her up" chants
Phase 2: Trump demands Pence reject electoral votes (unconstitutional)
Phase 3: Public pressure campaign: "Pence will have to come through"
Phase 4: January 6: "Pence didn't have the courage"
Phase 5: Mob chants "Hang Mike Pence!" Gallows erected. Pence 40 feet from mob
Phase 6: Trump's response to Pence in danger: "So what?"
Phase 2: Trump tweets "Arrest for Treason?" about Schiff
Phase 3: Years of attacks: "Shifty Schiff," "pencil neck," "watermelon head"
Phase 4: "Enemy from within... handled by military"
Phase 5: Regular death threats, security detail required, family targeted
Historical parallel: Declaring opposition as "internal enemies" requiring military force is textbook authoritarianism
Phase 2: January 6: Voted to impeach, joined January 6 Committee
Phase 3: Stripped of leadership, primaried and defeated
Phase 4: "Nine barrels shooting at her... guns trained on her face"
Phase 5: 24/7 security detail required, family threatened
Message: No amount of prior loyalty protects you if you prioritize Constitution over Trump
Each case study above follows the same pattern: Trump identifies a target, escalates from political attacks to criminal accusations, introduces violent imagery or language, and then supporters act on that language. When violence occurs, Trump denies responsibility, sometimes defends the attacker, and continues the same rhetoric -- reinforcing the permission structure. Scholars have a term for this pattern: stochastic terrorism.
Stochastic
Terrorism
The use of mass communication to incite random actors to carry out violent or terrorist acts that are statistically predictable but individually unpredictable.
Expert
Analysis
Trump has mastered the art of directing violence without explicitly calling for it. He identifies enemies, dehumanizes them, expresses frustration that they're still free, and waits. His supporters hear the message loud and clear.
Author of "How Fascism Works"
The 'enemy from within' rhetoric is especially dangerous because it combines dehumanization with a suggestion of legitimate state violence. When a president says opponents should face military action, he's not just encouraging vigilante violence -- he's threatening to use government power against Americans.
Expert on Authoritarianism
This follows the pattern of authoritarian leaders throughout history: declare opposition as traitors, suggest they deserve punishment, let supporters act on those suggestions, then deny responsibility. It's textbook stochastic terrorism.
Historian
Trump's 'Second Amendment people' comment about Clinton, the 'hang Mike Pence' chants, the 'nine barrels' comment about Cheney -- these aren't isolated incidents. They're a systematic pattern of violence incitement with real, measurable consequences.
Author of "How Civil Wars Start"
Real-World
Consequences
Dead on January 6
1 shot by police, 1 beaten, 3 medical emergencies. 1,000+ arrested, 500+ convicted. Rioters cited Trump's rhetoric.
Police Injured
Officers beaten with flagpoles, sprayed with chemicals, crushed in doorways. $30 million in damage to Capitol.
Pipe Bombs (2018)
Cesar Sayoc mailed bombs to Obama, Clinton, Biden, Soros, CNN, and 11 others. Van covered in Trump stickers. 20-year sentence.
Michigan Plot (2020)
Arrested for plotting to kidnap Gov. Whitmer, put her on 'trial,' and execute her. Catalyst: Trump's 'LIBERATE MICHIGAN' tweets.
Election Workers Quit
Mass resignations due to death threats after Trump's attacks. Ruby Freeman forced into hiding. Giuliani liable for $148 million.
Threat Increase
Threats to Congress increased 400% during Trump presidency. Every Democrat Trump targets sees spike in credible threats.
The expert consensus is clear and nearly unanimous: Trump's rhetoric against political opponents constitutes stochastic terrorism -- the use of mass communication to incite violence that is statistically predictable even if the specific perpetrator is not. The mechanism is consistent: dehumanize the target, frame them as an existential threat, suggest they deserve punishment, and wait for supporters to act. Each incident of violence then normalizes the next.
The Escalation
Pattern
The escalation pattern is consistent across every target.
From Insults
to Violence
Identify as Opponent
Anyone who criticizes Trump, votes against him, investigates him, testifies against him, or simply disagrees. Initial language: 'Opponent,' 'critic,' 'hater,' 'loser.'
Escalate to Criminality
'Crooked Hillary,' 'Corrupt Joe Biden,' 'Criminal Schiff,' 'Fraud' election workers. Claims they're committing crimes, breaking laws, stealing elections.
Dehumanize as 'Enemy'
'Enemy from within,' 'vermin,' 'animals,' 'sick people.' No longer fellow Americans with different views -- they're existential threats.
Suggest Violent Remedy
'Second Amendment people,' 'nine barrels,' 'hang Mike Pence,' 'use military,' 'knock the crap out of them.' Sometimes explicit, often implicit.
Supporter Violence Occurs
Pipe bombs, January 6 attack, death threats, assassination plots. Attacker often cites Trump's rhetoric, uses his language.
Deny, Deflect, Repeat
Denies responsibility, blames media, sometimes defends attacker, continues same rhetoric. Violence normalized, permission structure reinforced, cycle repeats.
Nazi-era language -- 'poisoning the blood,' 'vermin,' 'animals' -- used to dehumanize immigrants, with deadly consequences including the El Paso massacre.