By John Q. Hosedrinker 
On Wednesday, right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at a Utah college event, marking an instance of escalating political violence in the United States. According to Todd Belt, a political management professor, President Donald Trump significantly contributed to this rise in tension. Belt highlighted the substantial increase in threats against US lawmakers, asserting Trump’s actions had exacerbated the situation.
Read the original article here
Trump ‘threw gasoline on the fire’ amid growing political violence, expert says. It’s almost impossible to avoid the elephant in the room, or rather, the fire-starter in the room. The political climate in America feels like it’s reached a boiling point, and it’s hard to ignore the perception that Trump is actively making things worse. His rhetoric, the way he immediately jumps on any incident to blame the “left,” and his history of excusing violence – it all points to someone who’s less interested in de-escalation and more in exploiting the situation for his own political gain.
Let’s be honest, any hope of unity goes out the window the second he opens his mouth. Instead of offering a message of comfort or a call for calm, he’s already crafting a narrative that demonizes his opponents. This pattern is as predictable as it is damaging. You can almost hear the match being struck. It’s like watching a pyromaniac standing next to a burning building, gleefully pouring more fuel on the flames.
The reaction isn’t surprising. Those aligned with him, the “knuckle-dragging cultists,” as they’ve been called, are primed to react. When he speaks, they listen, and they often act. He has been given a playbook with “the left” as the designated scapegoat, despite any evidence, and then offers a convenient narrative for his base to rally around. The way this plays out is incredibly divisive and dangerous, creating a deeper chasm within the country.
It feels like he’s operating on a completely different level of political discourse than anyone else. His focus on division, on stoking anger and resentment, is a stark contrast to anyone trying to unite the country. There is a sense that Trump is less concerned about finding solutions and more interested in exploiting the situation for personal gain. It’s easy to see why people feel like the country is spiraling.
This isn’t a new strategy, and it’s been consistent throughout his career. The constant need to blame and to demonize is what fuels this cycle. He constantly blames “the other,” regardless of the situation. He has never once shown any sort of leadership skills. Any leader would try to heal and unite the country. But not this individual. His actions seem to be more about causing chaos and division than anything else.
It is hard to escape the feeling that Trump seems to thrive on the chaos. It’s like he knows how to press the right buttons, to trigger the most extreme reactions, and he seems to enjoy watching the spectacle unfold. From the moment of a tragedy, he’s already crafting the narrative, even before facts emerge. The speed with which he blames the “left” is alarming, showing little regard for the actual human cost.
It’s important to remember that one person committed the alleged crime. It’s crucial not to succumb to blanket accusations or generalizations. However, the right-wing influencers and media apparatus are already hard at work, generating a whirlwind of hate and rage directed at a significant portion of the population. The speed and intensity with which this unfolds is unsettling, making it nearly impossible to engage in a rational conversation.
There’s a disturbing level of detachment from reality. The spread of conspiracy theories and misinformation is alarming, from claims of a deliberate plot to blame the left to accusations of manufactured incidents designed to distract. The lack of critical thinking, the blind acceptance of any narrative that aligns with pre-existing biases, is incredibly disheartening.
This is why so many feel this is the “Reichstag Fire” moment, a deliberate attempt to set the stage for something more dramatic. It isn’t about the facts, it’s about the reaction. The way events unfold, the timing, the pronouncements – everything is designed to amplify the flames.
This isn’t just about Trump; it’s about the larger ecosystem of right-wing media and influencers who amplify his message and stoke the flames of hatred. It’s a network of anger and misinformation that amplifies every division and celebrates violence. It’s a dangerous combination of hate speech and calls for violence, creating an environment where anything is possible.
It’s hard to see how this ends well. The more this cycle continues, the more polarized the country becomes, and the more likely we are to witness even more violence. It’s not just about Trump; it’s about the system he’s created and the environment he’s fostered.
Ultimately, what is needed is de-escalation and reconciliation. Any decent president would be trying to calm the country and bring opposing sides together. Trump, however, is consistent with his modus operandi – throwing gasoline on a fire, and watching the flames engulf everything.