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Chris Murphy 🟧@ChrisMurphyCT · Jun 15, 2025

The Minnesota assassin appears to be a hate-filled right winger. So can we stop walking on eggshells about MAGA's…

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Summary

The thread argues that MAGA's consistent celebration of political violence—from January 6th pardons to Trump's rhetoric and gun fetishization—has created a dangerous climate that directly contributed to recent violent incidents. While acknowledging that violence occurs across the political spectrum, the author contends there is no Democratic equivalent to the systematic mainstreaming and endorsement of political violence on the right.

Summarized by ThreadOut AI from the full thread. May miss nuance — read the thread below.

  1. #1

    The Minnesota assassin appears to be a hate-filled right winger. So can we stop walking on eggshells about MAGA's legitimization of political violence? Yes, Republicans have also been the target of inexcusable violence, but this isn't a "both sides" issue. 1/ A🧵on the danger.

  2. #2

    2/ For the last five years, MAGA has been bathed in political violence. Most importantly, MAGA's celebration of January 6th and Trump's decision to pardon ALL the Jan 6 rioters - including the most violent - became a clear endorsement of violence committed in his name.

  3. #3

    3/ But it didn't start with January 6th. Trump regularly threatened protesters at his rallies with violence. He cozied up to brutal dictators abroad who used violence to maintain political control. There was no comparison in Democratic messaging.

  4. #4

    4/ And we cannot discount the impact of MAGA's fetishization of guns. MAGA celebrates the tools of mass shooters and assassins - assault rifles, machine guns, silencers and high capacity magazines. MAGA doesn't treat firearms with respect - it celebrates their killing power.

  5. #5

    5/ Trump sends other clear signals supporting political violence. Said he might pardon those that plotted the kidnapping of Gov. Whitmer; threatened peaceful protestors of his military parade with assault. Again, Democrats don't say these things. Not "both sides."

  6. #6

    6/ The deployment of the National Guard and Marines to LA was the next escalation. Trump sent the military into LA to inflame and create the conditions for more violence. The assault of Senator Padilla was the natural result of these purposefully heightened tensions.

  7. #7

    7/ When MAGA uses violence against its political opponents and endorses private acts of violence when committed in service of MAGA, unhinged people listen - mostly on the right, but also on the left. Once violence gets mainstreamed, it's hard to put it back in the bottle.

  8. #8

    8/ It's true the violence is sometimes trained on Republicans - including Trump. Yesterday, in fact, was the anniversary of the congressional baseball shooting. And yes, there have been some on the left who have been too cavalier about violence and they should be condemned too.

  9. #9

    9/ But there is no comparison anywhere on the left with MAGA's regular legitimization of violence in our politics. There is a straight line from Jan 6 to the pardons to the assault on Sen. Padilla to Minnesota. A democracy cannot function when one faction embraces violence.