Photograph by Nathaniel St. Clair
Thank you, Ken Klippenstein.
Kippenstein’s recent discussions of Att. Gen. Pam Bondi’s Memo “Ending Political Violence Against ICE” and Pres. Donald Trump’s National Security Presidential Memo/NSPM-7, “Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized” — as well as his presentation on Democracy Now! — makes it frightening clear that the “legal” framework of a Trump dictatorship is being put in place.
The Bondi memo declares: “Enough is enough. … Our officers will suppress all unlawful rioting and arrest every person suspected of threatening or assaulting a federal law enforcement officer or interfering with federal law enforcement operations.”
Trump’s NSPM-7 goes much further, identifying “anti-Christian” and “anti-American” views as indicators of radical left violence. The memo insists, the “‘anti-fascist’ lie has become the organizing rallying cry used by domestic terrorists to wage a violent assault against democratic institutions, constitutional rights, and fundamental American liberties.”
It declares:
“Common threads animating this violent conduct include anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity; support for the overthrow of the United States Government; extremism on migration, race, and gender; and hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, and morality.”
It spells out its policing strategy:
“The United States requires a national strategy to investigate and disrupt networks, entities, and organizations that foment political violence so that law enforcement can intervene in criminal conspiracies before they result in violent political acts.”
The two federal memos extend further Trump’s September 25th memo, “Designating Antifa as a Domestic Terrorist Organization.” It claims, “Antifa is a militarist, anarchist enterprise that explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States Government, law enforcement authorities, and our system of law.” Going further, it argues:
“Antifa recruits, trains, and radicalizes young Americans to engage in this violence and suppression of political activity, then employs elaborate means and mechanisms to shield the identities of its operatives, conceal its funding sources and operations in an effort to frustrate law enforcement, and recruit additional members. Individuals associated with and acting on behalf of Antifa further coordinate with other organizations and entities for the purpose of spreading, fomenting, and advancing political violence and suppressing lawful political speech.”
To combat Antifa, Trump calls for:
“All relevant executive departments and agencies shall utilize all applicable authorities to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle any and all illegal operations — especially those involving terrorist actions — conducted by Antifa or any person claiming to act on behalf of Antifa, or for which Antifa or any person claiming to act on behalf of Antifa provided material support, including necessary investigatory and prosecutorial actions against those who fund such operations.”
The Trump administration is systematically moving to consolidate power and, sadly, forge a dictatorship. The three recent initiatives sketch out a legalistic framework that augment and strengthen still other efforts. These efforts include (i) a militarized ICE that functions with near immunity and is not answerable to the law or courts; (ii) the Dept. of Defense’s restriction on press freedom; and (iii) the FCC’s has denied licenses to media organizations that criticize the Trump presidency.
All this is happening as Trump, the Trump family and organization are enriching themselves through government contacts and pay-off.
One can only ask: Is this a dictatorship in formation?
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