One of the most frequent defenses of the troubling events at the United States Capitol on January 6 is the classic “But what about the BLM protests?” This is a prime example of whataboutism, often illustrated simply with a photo of a burning building. Another common defense is, “It wasn’t us,” with blame shifted onto Antifa, BLM, radical socialists, or hired actors. Some argue, “But those individuals don’t represent the majority of Trump supporters.”
Let’s take a moment to recognize that the Black Lives Matter protests were responses to ongoing violence against Black individuals in this country—violence that occurs with alarming regularity and often goes unpunished by the very institutions tasked with their protection.
Yet, we are led to believe that the majority of Trump supporters are fundamentally good people with whom we merely have differing political views. We are supposed to accept that the Capitol invasion was a rare occurrence committed by a tiny faction of “bad apples,” while simultaneously being told that liberals are the real issue.
In truth, anyone who has been paying attention could see this coming for years. We’ve been anxious about the potential fallout since before Trump even took office. The way he spoke and how his supporters responded made it clear that we were on the brink of significant unrest.
The “bad apples” defense does little to alleviate our concerns, just as it didn’t when Trump dismissed racist police violence against unarmed Black men as merely a few “bad apples.”
The full saying goes, “A few bad apples spoil the bunch.” The officer who killed George Floyd had numerous complaints against him yet remained in a position where he could harm the community. If you want to discuss bad apples, you must be willing to remove those individuals from the bunch. Otherwise, it’s only reasonable to conclude that the entire group is tainted.
The individuals who stormed the Capitol, and those who continue to plot insurrection, are part of Trump’s base. As a Trump supporter, it’s crucial to acknowledge that you are entangled with those individuals, regardless of whether you wish to accept that truth.
You may not condone their violent actions, but if you support Trump, you are also endorsing his most fervent backers. Trump thrives on the chaos that ensued at the Capitol; it feeds his ego and allows him to avoid taking responsibility for the sedition taking place in his name.
If you doubt Trump’s support for those who stormed the Capitol, consider his contrasting responses. His reaction to the Black Lives Matter protests was “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.” In stark contrast, when the Capitol was overrun, he needed to be persuaded to tell his supporters to back down. His response was tepid compared to his earlier remarks about BLM protests.
Trump’s words show a clear bias: he sympathizes with those who act out violently in his name, saying, “We love you. You’re very special,” instead of condemning their actions. It’s evident that he has a soft spot for all of his supporters, including the most extreme among them.
This is the reality: Trump and his supporters are inextricably linked. Supporting him means also supporting those who commit acts of sedition. Whataboutism won’t change this fact, nor will pretending that these treasonous individuals are a separate entity from Trump’s coalition. Trump embodies the worst of the bad apples, and it’s time to remove him from the bunch.
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Summary: This article discusses the flawed reasoning behind the defense of Trump supporters in light of the Capitol riots, highlighting the dangers of the “bad apples” argument. It emphasizes the connection between Trump and his supporters, arguing that one cannot simply isolate the violent actions of a few without acknowledging the broader implications for the entire movement.
Keyphrase: “Trump supporters and insurrection”
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