In his first month in office, the president has carried out a campaign of retribution that has little analogue in history.

He has pulled protective details from former colleagues facing death threats from Iran. He has revoked or threatened to revoke the security clearances of President Biden, members of his administration and dozens of others. His administration has taken steps to target members of the media seen as unfriendly, taken the hatchet to entire agencies perceived as too liberal and fired or investigated government workers deemed disloyal.

. . .

Mr. Trump’s targeting of those he sees as disloyal is more intense and far-reaching than any that preceded it in American history, says Nicole Hemmer, an associate professor of history at Vanderbilt University who studies the presidency. Other presidents, such as John Adams, have attacked the press. Some, such as Andrew Jackson, have investigated previous administrations, claiming they were rooting out corruption. Richard M. Nixon’s penchant for going after his enemies cost him the White House.

But Mr. Trump’s efforts have extended beyond high-profile individuals and stretched down into the lower ranks of government and media.

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  • ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org
    40·
    2 days ago

    I believe this is becoming more and more pointed:

    First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
    • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
      12·
      2 days ago

      Worth noting that, although Niemoller omitted them, the group the Nazis actually came for first was the LGBTQ. And the MAGAs have done that already, too.

      We’re not looking at step 1 being in the future here, folks.