I have no sympathy for Trump, given his vicious threats against his political enemies

When I heard that a gunman had been subdued at the White House Correspondents Dinner last night, I hoped that no one had been killed or seriously injured. After I learned that everybody attending the dinner was fine, I didn’t seek out any more news about the attack, largely because I couldn’t care less about how Trump or other administration officials were reacting to it.

Predictably, today I heard pleas to “turn down the political rhetoric.” Fine, good advice. If Donald Trump would only take it.

Trump has done more to create a climate for political violence than anyone else in our country. Trump is the #1 offender against truth, decency, and respect for those we disagree with. No contest. Trump is the all-time champion when it comes to baseless, vile, inflammatory attacks on anyone who disagrees with him or challenges him.

I just Googled “Trump’s worst insults about democrats and others on the left in his second term.” Here’s part of the AI response. It seems absolutely correct to me. I remember Trump making each of these insults — which actually go beyond mere insults into dangerously extreme rationalizations for political violence.

Based on his rhetoric during the 2024 campaign and since taking office in January 2025, Donald Trump’s second-term insults against Democrats, the left, and political opponents have focused on characterizing them as existential threats to the United States. His language has consistently labeled opponents as “evil,” “sick,” and “traitors,” often urging for them to be prosecuted. 

Core Insults and Rhetoric (2025–2026)

• “Enemy from Within”: Trump has repeatedly referred to Democrats and those on the left as the “enemy from within,” asserting they are more dangerous to the U.S. than foreign adversaries like China or Russia.
• “Traitors” and Treason: In late 2025, Trump accused several Democratic lawmakers—specifically mentioning Sens. Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin—of “seditious behavior” and being “traitors” for encouraging military members to disobey potentially unlawful orders. He suggested their actions were punishable by death and demanded they be jailed.
• “Radical Left Lunatics” and “Thugs”: He routinely describes left-wing politicians and activists as “radical left lunatics,” “communists,” “fascists,” and “thugs”.
• “Sick” and “Evil”: Trump has labeled figures like Nancy Pelosi as “so sick” and “so evil”.
• “Country-Hating”: He has labeled Democrats as “radical left, country-hating” individuals who are trying to create chaos. 

Look, there’s no excuse for political violence. Almost everybody can agree about that. Well, except for Cole Allen, the gunman who wrote a manifesto of sorts prior to his attack. It’s interesting reading, though, unsurprisingly, not all that coherent. He doesn’t mention Trump by name, but perhaps this is an indirect mention: And I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.

There’s more humor in Allen’s manifesto than I would have expected. Gallows humor, but also some decent jokes. Somewhat strangely, Allen is less insulting toward administration officials than Trump has been toward Democrats, the “enemy from within,” “fascists,” and “thugs.” His final words are rather poignant.

Oh and if anyone is curious is how doing something like feels: it’s awful. I want to throw up; I want to cry for all the things I wanted to do and never will, for all the people whose trust this betrays; I experience rage thinking about everything this administration has done.

Can’t really recommend it! Stay in school, kids.