By Halie Sofer
WASHINGTON, D.C — Here are six takeaways from the first two days of Trump’s second term.
- Trump’s actions in his first 48 hours are those of a dictator.
Donald Trump pledged to be a “dictator on day one,” and, for once, he’s making good on his promise. He is consolidating power, creating loyalty tests and enacting political retribution, rewarding convicted insurrectionists, co-opting the media and tech oligarchs, preparing for mass deportations and detentions, denying birthright citizenship enshrined in the Constitution, withdrawing from international agreements, and aligning with dangerous criminals and violent extremists.
2. Trump’s actions are an affront to our values and threaten our community.
Trump has rewarded and incentivized political violence by pardoning, giving clemency to, and releasing from prison more than 1,500 insurrectionists. This includes the Capitol rioter who wore a “Camp Auschwitz” sweatshirt and leaders of two violent extremist groups – the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers – both of which include white supremacists and antisemites. These pardons, including for those charged with seditious conspiracy and assault of law enforcement officers, send a green light to dangerous right-wing extremists that they can use violence in service to Trump.
3. Trump’s top advisor, Elon Musk, appeared to give the Nazi salute.
One need look no further than the video from Trump’s inaugural event to see that Elon Musk, not once but twice, appeared to give a Nazi salute. Those trying to deny or explain it away should consider that right-wing extremists, white nationalists, and neo-Nazis are embracing Elon’s gesture as a marching order.
4. Trump referred to insurrectionists as “hostages” in front of actual Israeli and American hostage families.
At the same event where Musk gave his salute, President Trump spoke about releasing the so-called “J6 hostages,” or January 6 insurrectionists, as actual Israeli and American hostage families and a former Israeli hostage stood on the stage behind him, demonstrating Trump’s callousness and complete lack of empathy for those being held captive by Hamas in Gaza.
5. In honor of his birthday, we remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” – Dr. King
6. We have agency and community. We are stronger together, and we can take action.
*
Halie Sofer is the Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Democratic Council of America.
Stiffin the crows. More nonsense from a Democrat. You lady have to take your share of responsibility for the crime including rape and murder and deaths caused by illegals and drug gangs who crossed the border in the south. Trump has issued Executive orders for everything he has done. It’s time you got used to the system being used. All quite legal.
You have doubts about Elon Musk making a Nazi salute. Well he didn’t, and the ADL says he did not.
The J6 committee members got pardons from Biden, J6 media coverage changed on the 3rd day after the event, from being reported as an event to a coup. You were slow off the mark with your political interference in the event. It was not a coup. The Mayor of Washington refused the offer of military and national guard troops to provide security for the Hill for the 6th/ The offer of troops was made by Trump and turned down. A coup in a country like The USA needs armed people including military unit involvement. none of that happened. Some of the sentences given to people involved were over the top. The deal for hostage release from Gaza only happened because Trump said release them before Jan 20 or else and they knew what he meant. Then of course your leader Biden pardoned his family members with preemptive pardons. Really you think that is ok. I suggest you get a speech writer who is attuned to reality. — John McCormick, New Zealand
Spewing this garbage is exactly why the Democrats lost the election.
Elon Musk is a huge supporter of Israell and has done much more to bring attention to the plight of the Israeli hostages than your trash organization.