THE DAILY BLAST with Greg Sargent Trump’s Rants to Generals Spiral into Madness as Dem Unloads: “Idiot!”
Oct 1, 2025
Ian Reifowitz, a history professor at SUNY Empire State University and co-author of Riling Up the Base, dives into alarming themes from Trump’s recent speech to military officials. He unpacks Trump’s rhetoric, characterizing America as under siege from within, blurring lines between domestic and foreign threats. Ian explores the dangers of militarizing U.S. cities and traces the historical roots of such grievances back to mid-20th century politics. He also discusses the effectiveness of mockery as a political strategy, spotlighting Senator Gallego's sharp rebuttal.
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Domestic Opponents Cast As Foreign Enemy
- Trump framed domestic political opponents as a foreign-style "enemy" to justify military-style responses.
- This deliberately erases the line between foreign and domestic threats to American democracy.
Blurring Military Role With Domestic Policing
- Trump is trying to normalize using the military for domestic policing by telling generals they'll be part of a "war" on Americans.
- This rhetoric conflicts with Posse Comitatus limits and suggests he views presidential authority as absolute.
Authorization Rhetoric Raises Lethal Stakes
- Trump publicly authorized 'full force' in domestic settings and suggested using cities as military training grounds.
- Ian Reifowitz warns that emphasis on lethal capacity raises the temperature and risks illegal domestic military deployment.
