Trump Sparks Outrage After Calling for Military Action Against Political Opponents Ahead of Election

 

Donald Trump has sparked intense backlash from Democrats after suggesting the use of U.S. military or National Guard forces against his political opponents in the upcoming presidential election. In remarks made during a Fox News interview, Trump referred to his adversaries as the "enemy within" and argued that deploying troops might be necessary to maintain order during the election on November 5.

Trump singled out Congressman Adam Schiff of California, who had led the impeachment trial against him in 2020, as a greater threat to the election than foreign actors or immigrants. Schiff's leadership in the investigation of Trump's alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 election has long made him a target for Trump's ire.

These comments have drawn sharp criticism from Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign, which likened Trump’s words to his earlier claims of aspiring to be a dictator on "day one" if reelected. A spokesperson for Harris's campaign expressed concerns that Trump’s remarks reflect a dangerous authoritarian mindset, citing his past calls for the military to suppress civil unrest, such as the protests in Washington D.C. following the death of George Floyd in 2020.

At a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Harris condemned Trump's statements, warning that his return to office would be perilous for American democracy. She described him as "unstable and unhinged," cautioning voters against giving him a second term.

Historians, such as Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a scholar on authoritarianism, noted that Trump’s rhetoric mirrors tactics used by leaders like Viktor Orbán of Hungary, Narendra Modi of India, and Vladimir Putin of Russia—leaders known for consolidating power and suppressing opposition.

Schiff, who is running for the U.S. Senate in the same election, responded to Trump’s latest attacks by accusing him of inciting violence, much like the events of January 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. He stated, “Just as he incited a mob to attack the Capitol, he again stokes violence against those who oppose him.”

While Trump no longer holds office and cannot deploy the military, his calls for the use of force against political opposition have sparked widespread alarm, with many fearing that his return to power could undermine democratic principles. Critics point to Trump’s history of controversial decisions involving the military, including his 2020 demand to deploy troops to Washington D.C. during civil rights protests, an action that nearly led to the resignation of General Mark Milley, then Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The ongoing debate underscores the deep divisions in the lead-up to the election, with Trump and Harris locked in a tight race, particularly in key swing states.