Calling Trump a Tyrant Is Not a Call to Violence
The article discusses the implications of labeling Donald Trump as a tyrant and the reactions from conservatives who argue that such rhetoric incites violence. It highlights the contradiction in Trump's own inflammatory language while criticizing the notion that opposing authoritarianism could lead to violence. The author argues for the importance of democratic resistance to authoritarianism without resorting to violence or extreme rhetoric.
- ▪Conservatives claim that calling Trump a tyrant incites violence against him.
- ▪Trump himself has used inflammatory language against his opponents, including accusations of treason.
- ▪The article argues that democratic means can effectively resist authoritarianism without resorting to violence.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
PoliticsCalling Trump a Tyrant Is Not a Call to ViolenceConservatives want to police how we talk about Trump—while excusing how the president talks about everyone else.By Jonathan ChaitJonathan Ernst / ReutersApril 28, 2026 ShareSave Listen−1.0x+Seek0:007:15Sign up for Inside the Trump Presidency, a newsletter featuring coverage of the second Trump term.To describe Donald Trump as a corrupt aspiring authoritarian is not to conclude that he should be murdered.This ought to be a simple point to understand.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Atlantic.
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