Over the past week, former president Donald Trump has been making waves with his provocative statements. At recent rallies, he's been more aggressive than usual, even suggesting a woman heckler should be "taken care of" by her mother. But things escalated on a Sunday morning interview on Fox News. Trump claimed that "radical left lunatics," including California representative Adam Schiff, are more dangerous than Russia or China and could be handled by the military.

This isn't the first time Trump has proposed using the military against American citizens. His actions as president showed a pattern of viewing the military as his personal force to quell dissent. Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley even labeled Trump as "fascist to his core."

The label "fascist" might feel overused, but Trump's suggestion that Americans are more dangerous than major global powers is alarming. During the Cold War, such statements would have been seen as treasonous by conservatives. Yet, today's Republican leaders are largely silent or supportive of Trump's rhetoric.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin's response to these comments on CNN is a case in point. He dodged questions about Trump's remarks, trying to shift the focus to immigration issues. This isn't new; many Republicans have been avoiding a direct confrontation with Trump's controversial statements.

Youngkin's tactics echo a famous scene from George Orwell's 1984, where citizens are told to reject evidence from their own eyes and ears. But Youngkin isn't a victim of an authoritarian regime; he's an opportunist. He's one of many Republicans trying to stay in Trump's good books for future political gain.

The Republican Party has become a haven for such opportunists. Someone like Marjorie Taylor Greene, known for her unfounded claims, thrives in this environment. Meanwhile, supposedly more responsible Republicans like Youngkin act as if nothing is amiss, hoping to keep their political careers intact by playing along with Trump's rhetoric.

Americans should pay attention to these exchanges. They reveal a disturbing trend where party loyalty trumps national interest. It's crucial to scrutinize the actions and statements of political leaders, especially when they contradict the values of democracy.

Trump's Call for Military Against Americans: A Disturbing Shift

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