Donald Trump’s stochastic terrorism is spiraling out of control
Stochastic terrorist Donald Trump is now using his malevolence to bend Congress to his will. Not only would this mean removing a barrier to absolute power, but as checks and balances erode, so goes our democracy. Normally, lawmakers who defy their party could face consequences at the ballot box. But in the context of this new Trump term, the risk is greater — politicians who stand up to Trump are also putting their family’s safety in the crosshairs.
Back in 2019, near the end of Trump’s first failed term, I wrote about how it came to light that the ogre’s behavior fit the definition of stochastic terrorism. This term refers to “the public demonization of a person or group resulting in the incitement of a violent act, which is statistically probable but whose specifics cannot be predicted,” according to Dictionary.com. As Jonathon Keats of Wired.com explained earlier that year, “Stochastic terrorism lets bullies operate in the open with full deniability, since the random element erases any provable causation.” In other words, Trump simply targets a dissenter through his words; then, without giving orders, he stays silent and enjoys watching as a wave of violent threats ensues.
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell recently sounded the alarm that Republican lawmakers are terrified of publicly opposing Trump, fearing that they will stand out as “the tallest poppy in the field,” because of consequences beyond just politics. Swalwell revealed that these lawmakers’ family members tell them, “Do not do this, it’s not worth it, it will change our lives forever. We will have to hire around-the-clock security,” according to a report from The Guardian.
This disturbing development also makes these Republican lawmakers fear interactions with their constituents that could push them toward defying Trump. NBC News is now reporting that “House Republicans are becoming weary and wary of in-person town hall meetings,” and “leaders are urging lawmakers to stop engaging in them altogether.”
For a democracy to survive and thrive, lawmakers must be able to listen to constituents and act professionally and appropriately based on the oath they swore and the commitment of the job. Casting votes in response to fear and intimidation is a dark and dangerous path to autocracy.
A far better President of the United States, John Adams, once wrote, “Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” America does not need to be the democracy that is next in line to commit suicide—not because of Trump, and not now.
Ron Leshnower is a lawyer and the author of several books, including President Trump’s Month