Earning An "Enemy Within" Designation From Donald Trump

Why we should all strive to be antagonists of this egomaniacal wannabe despot

Donald Trump’s rhetoric revolves around two mutually reinforcing themes: fear and commodification. The only two questions he’s asking himself as he rants and raves for two hours at rallies or gives another mind-numbing helping of word salad to an interviewer are: “How do I make them panic?” and “How do I get them to open their wallets as a result of that panic?”.

“Illegals,” sanctuary cities, rioters for racial justice, taxpayer-funded care for transgender prisoners, kids sifting through sexual identities in school under their parents’ radar, fetuses ready to be born barbarically ripped from wombs and destroyed by sadistic would-be mothers and demonic doctors, a new world order using the hoax of climate change to rip away your fossil fuels-driven way of life, childless old spinster cat women, coastal liberals coming for your guns, lions and tigers and bears, OH MY!

While folks who bother to listen to this moron are juggling these irrational fears and nonsensical drivel like hot potatoes, Trump is simultaneously selling them $400 golden high-top shoes; $70-$80 Trump and Lee Greenwood bibles (unless of course they’re autographed and then they’re a lot more); $100,000 Trump “Swiss-made” watches, and MAGA merchandise galore. You can even buy clothes he’s worn!

You can show your unending fealty and devotion to Trump in so many ways! You can take part in a Trump Train parade with Trump flags and decals covering the biggest truck you can possibly purchase. You can put enormous banners and flags you spend thousands of dollars on all over your house and property. You can put out yard signs that say you’re a “deplorable” and that you’re “voting for the felon”. Just make sure that somewhere you’re indicating that you’re working to “Take America Back!”.

Take America back from what? Well, the implication would appear to be from a multiracial, multicultural, secular society back to a not-so-forgotten time of white, authoritarian Christian, wealthy male dominance. The systems and institutions of patriarchy, white supremacy, Christian theocracy, and overall racial and cultural Eurocentric homogeneity are, of course, still with us, but they don’t quite allow for the exclusive place at the top of the social and socioeconomic hierarchy that members of this group used to enjoy. The MAGA cult aims to change that.

Any MAGA cultist reading this (if they’ve made it this far) will undoubtedly be a bit frightened and a lot angry that the previous paragraph uses a word containing “homo” and the “c” word that is more frightening and rage-inducing than any other to this lot: change. Those of us who still operate within the realm of an objective reality and the existence of objective truth and facts in this post-truth, “alternative facts”, Trumpian Era recognize that the natural order is that we adapt or die, evolve or go extinct. Not so for the MAGA cult. Truth is what their beloved Dear Leader says it is at any given time and facts are either subjective or just plain irrelevant.

Photo by Jose M on Unsplash

Trump has started referring to Democrats and leftists in particular as “the enemy within.” He's even threatening use of the military against his political rivals, especially in large urban areas, and to use uniformed servicemembers as deportation forces if he wins. The lies he and running mate JD Vance have told about Haitian migrants in Springfield, OH have been particularly egregious, but he uses every microphone he can get in front of him to spew the most hateful, vile, nativist and xenophobic rhetoric he possibly can, especially regarding migrants (documented or not) from south of the U.S. border.

Never mind that mass deportation, or even the threat of it, for certain documented as well as undocumented migrants (particularly Black and Brown folks) would have a devastating effect on U.S. agricultural production and construction and maintenance economies; these are fucking human beings who often work for low wages in dangerous and uncleanly working conditions and pay into programs from which they receive no direct benefit (i.e. Social Security). None of that factors in to Trump’s decision-making.

Trump’s idea for massive tariffs on overseas goods, including a proposal for a 60% tariff on all goods coming from China, would lead to economic devastation in our consumption-driven economy. The Harris campaign is correct in saying that these tariffs would serve as a regressive tax on working-class and poor Americans. Once again, though, none of that matters to Trump. We’re supposed to fear China as a communist rival for global hegemonic dominance. The Biden administration hawks that fear as well but at least Biden recognizes the idiocy of such huge tariffs on all Chinese imports.

I will continue to strive with everything in me to be what Trump dangerously and carelessly labels a domestic enemy. It’s not only that we can’t go back, a slogan adopted and used widely by the Harris campaign and Democrats, but we can’t risk a future where Trump is again given the reigns because of new initiatives he promises either (see numerous parts of Project 2025 and Agenda 47).

I am as disgusted by the Zionist policies of the Biden administration regarding Israel’s genocidal and colonialist campaigns in Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen as anyone. I’m truly frightened of the potential for global conflagration stemming from Israel’s confrontation of Iran and Russia’s ongoing war of conquest in Ukraine. But, I can’t live with myself, even in a state like West Virginia that has such little impact in the Electoral College and is virtually guaranteed to give its measly 4 EC votes to Trump, unless I vote for the only candidate who can stop his second ascendance to power.

As I’ve said before and will again, I’d much prefer to vote for Claudia De la Cruz and Karina Garcia on the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) ticket. My views align with theirs pretty much entirely. If only Claudia and Karina were going to be on every ballot or at least viable write-ins on every ballot and had the backing to legitimately win. We just don’t have that kind of viability for third parties and are a long way from it. The dangers are too great, the threats too imminent, not to vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, especially in swing or battleground states.

Many do and will disagree on this and I honor and respect that. It’s not wrong or irresponsible to draw lines in the sand for the Palestinian People, for example. My own conscience, however, just won’t allow for my direct or indirect complicity in a second Trump presidency. For the sake of a habitable planet, stable government, free and secular society, and multicultural and multiracial, small “d” democratic society (however little of it exists), we must stop a second Donald Trump presidency by peaceful means (while still possible) at the polls.