He threw himself a military parade. And then threatened anyone who showed up to protest it.
Trump warned that demonstrations around his parade would be met with “very big force.” Not “we’ll handle any disturbances appropriately.” Not “law enforcement will maintain order.” Very big force. Said out loud, in public, about American citizens exercising their constitutional right to protest.
This is a president using the language of military intimidation against his own people for disagreeing with him in public.
The parade itself was already a red flag — leaders who need armies marching in their honor are usually compensating for something. But threatening protesters at that parade takes it somewhere darker. It’s a message: show up and oppose me, and see what happens.
The First Amendment doesn’t have an exception for events that make the president feel good about himself.
When the government starts talking about protesters the way it talks about enemies, you’re not living in a democracy anymore. You’re living in the early stages of something else.
Sources: Reuters