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LetMyPeopleVote

(171,270 posts)
47. MaddowBlog-Ahead of No Kings events, Republicans' anti-protest rhetoric takes an ugly turn
Mon Oct 13, 2025, 07:34 PM
Monday

GOP leaders appear so concerned about a scheduled protest that they're falsely labeling a No Kings gathering as a “hate-America rally.”

The more Republican rhetoric about No Kings events turns hysterical, the easier it is to believe that the party is increasingly worried about the growing public backlash to the GOP agenda. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-10-13T15:48:52.307Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/ahead-no-kings-events-republicans-anti-protest-rhetoric-takes-ugly-tur-rcna237271

Donald Trump’s approach to peaceful American protesters has long reflected a president uncomfortable with dissent. Indeed, the Republican has spent years trying to delegitimize dissenters, urging the public to see his detractors as “paid protesters,” as if his opponents are inherently inauthentic.......

But when it comes to GOP attitudes related to Americans and their right to public dissent, the problem isn’t limited to the man in the Oval Office. Politico reported late last week:

Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday slammed the No Kings protest march scheduled to take place at the National Mall [on Oct. 18], describing the planned protest as the ‘hate America rally’ that would draw ‘the pro-Hamas wing’ and ‘the antifa people.’ His characterizations, however, drew condemnation from some Democrats who defended the protest movement, whose first big demonstration was overwhelmingly peaceful.


Hours after the Louisiana Republican made those comments on Fox News, he doubled down on the rhetoric during comments to reporters on Capitol Hill, referring to No Kings gathering as a “hate-America rally.”

Johnson had plenty of company. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer on Friday also told reporters that the scheduled protest should be seen as a “hate-America rally,” adding that the gathering is being championed by “the terrorist wing” of the Democratic Party......

Last month, Trump designated antifa as a “major terrorist organization,” notwithstanding the fact there is no such organization, and we soon after discussed an unsettling dynamic: If the White House says that antifa members are terrorists, and the White House says it will decide on its own who and what qualifies as “antifa” affiliates, this can get very scary, very quickly.

Weeks later, GOP leaders started telling Americans that a peaceful demonstration by Americans will draw “the antifa people,” and that “the terrorist wing” of the Democratic Party is involved in the gathering.

There have already been too many recent instances in which those in positions of power have tried to stifle dissent. There’s no reason to believe, however, that things won’t get worse.

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So he is admitting he is a fascist. MacKasey Wednesday #1
No doubt that is where we are headed. NCDem47 Wednesday #3
Headed? Brother Buzz Thursday #38
That would be the inescapable conclusion. sop Wednesday #10
Jack with Turning Point USA, (didn't catch his last name), says the insidious Antifa has been around for 100 years. tetedur Wednesday #2
Big time antifascist thomski64 Wednesday #4
Weird how the Republican party used to be anti-fascist a long time ago. tetedur Wednesday #6
Actually Antifaschistische Aktion was formed in 1932 by the Communist Party of Germany with support of Stalin. WarGamer Wednesday #14
Just like the gun humpers coming along to split hairs about types of guns after our travelingthrulife Wednesday #16
Well BannonsLiver Thursday #25
"Words have definitions" BannonsLiver Thursday #24
This is who Trump, et al., are referring to? dpibel Thursday #26
See... here's the deal. WarGamer Thursday #27
Once again dpibel Thursday #30
they're idiots... historically illiterate. WarGamer Thursday #33
What is the current meaning of the term? dpibel Thursday #39
I would agree with you BUT WarGamer Thursday #40
Where? dpibel Friday #42
Glad you asked. WarGamer Friday #46
Right on time. Kingofalldems Thursday #36
What's your opinion on the topic? WarGamer Thursday #41
EIGHTEEN THOUSAND!!! dpibel Friday #43
I love Antifa even though it has no official members. Kingofalldems Friday #45
I am not threatened by history. Chemical Bill Friday #44
I have news for Trump... Moostache Wednesday #5
This makes me want to protest even more Tree Lady Wednesday #7
We're holding a No Kings protest. Does he believe that's against him?? lindysalsagal Wednesday #8
FuckTrmp.... spanone Wednesday #9
Antifa enid602 Wednesday #11
Most of the idiotic followers of Trump don't understand what "antifa" is an abbreviation for... AntiFascist Wednesday #12
Is it ok to be "profa"? Martin Eden Wednesday #13
Isn't that what MAGA is? WestMichRad Wednesday #15
YES Martin Eden Wednesday #18
Decree? Ms. Toad Wednesday #17
Trump is King of America now. Perhaps you missed it? Jack Valentino Wednesday #20
That's essentially all.he is doing these days. Klarkashton Wednesday #21
No. He is making speeches (no legal effect) Ms. Toad Wednesday #22
No. He is making speeches (no legal effect) Ms. Toad Wednesday #23
Trump is right but he doesn't know it. All of us protesters are definitely "ANTI-FASCIST" !!! Jack Valentino Wednesday #19
Emergency naked bike ride protest in Portland this Sunday! MerryBlooms Thursday #28
I will be in my home in SW Ohio Sunday, but I promise to shower naked in silent solidarity. Xavier Breath Thursday #31
All bluster. No law backs this bs, like so many of his decrees MerryBlooms Thursday #29
As a Protestant, Trump is a protester. If he doesn't like protestation, perhaps he should embrace Catholicism. RedWhiteBlueIsRacist Thursday #32
What? iemanja Thursday #35
The Portland Unicorn will top the list. iemanja Thursday #34
So the millions that will be out protesting on October 18 tavernier Thursday #37
MaddowBlog-Ahead of No Kings events, Republicans' anti-protest rhetoric takes an ugly turn LetMyPeopleVote Monday #47
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