In ‘mirror world’, Trump is martyr and Biden is autocrat, as calls for violence erupt on internet after ex-president’s conviction

The posts are ominous.

“Pick a side, or YOU are next,” wrote conservative talkshow host Dan Bongino on the Truth Social media platform in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s 34 felony convictions.

The replies were even more so.

“Dan, seriously now,” one user wrote in response to Bongino. “I see no way out of all this mess without bloodshed. When you can rig an election, then weaponize the government and the courts against a former President, what other alternative is there? I’m almost 70 and would rather die than live in tyranny.”

That’s a common version of how many people on the US right reacted to the ex-president’s verdict, drawing on a “mirror world” where Trump is seen as the selfless martyr to powerful state forces and Joe Biden is the dangerous autocrat wielding the justice system as his own personal plaything and a threat to US democracy.

Calls for revenge, retribution and violence littered the rightwing internet as soon as Trump’s guilty verdict came down, all predicated on the idea that the trial had been a sham designed to interfere with the 2024 election. Some posted online explicitly saying it was time for hangings, executions and civil wars.

  • Flying Squid
    166•4 months ago

    Nonsense. They aren’t mobilizing. Loud pundits are telling them to mobilize.

    Where are they gathering? They weren’t even outside Trump’s trial in any sizable numbers.

    This is some fearmongering bullshit based on stupid nonsense people like fucking Dan Bongino of all people on said on fucking Truth Social. Even most of MAGA world isn’t on Truth Social.

    • thedirtyknapkin
      48•4 months ago

      i mean, they already mobilized and attacked once. January 6 was not a spur of the moment thing. if you watched the hearings for it you’d know that the fbi knew about j6 for months and warned everyone they could.

      presumably there’s much the same kind of planning happening right now.

      • Flying Squid
        27•4 months ago

        That planning was coordinated, in part, with the administration in power. Which can’t be done this time.

        • girlfreddyOP
          11•4 months ago

          Problem is there’s a high likelyhood it will be done come Nov 2024/Jan 2025.

        • sudo
          3•4 months ago

          There isn’t a central planning but I’d expect an increase in stochastic terror attacks. Fertilizer bombs, shooting up a substation, etc.

      • barsquid
        15•4 months ago

        That entire “revolution” was halted by a single gunshot. Hopefully they don’t injure innocent bystanders when they check again if they’re brave enough for terrorism.

    • jballsEnglish
      31•4 months ago

      Tucker Carlson, the rightwing media heavyweight, waxed apocalyptic: “Import the third world, become the third world. That’s what we just saw. This won’t stop Trump. He’ll win the election if he’s not killed first. But it does mark the end of the fairest justice system in the world. Anyone who defends this verdict is a danger to you and your family.”

      Seriously wtf. These people are trying to get people killed.

    • ax_xaEnglish
      11•4 months ago

      Where are they gathering?

      I would check Waffle House.