Terrorism as a Campaign Strategy

It's New to Us...But It's Not to Fascists and Wannabe Dictators

Some politicians dress up dangerous or ill-conceived ideas in the dull grey flannel of journal articles or appearances on Sunday morning shows. They use calming tones and business-as-usual language to lull voters into acceptance or apathy which is often just as good. The less the suckers notice or resist, the easier it is to fleece them.

Donald Trump and the MAGA movement take another approach. They dress up their worst ideas in the clown suits of lunacy. They frame their plans in ways that are so over-the-top they are indelibly imprinted in the minds of audiences. They want to provoke outrage. The nuttier the idea, the louder many of their core supporters cheer—because they see shocking the sensibilities of political normies as an act of rebellion.