It is perhaps former President Donald Trump who has most clearly shunned appeals to national unity. This follows reports of threats preceding the patriotic assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Instead, Trump went after what he called the “vicious and horrible” radicals on the left. He represented them as the principle reason for the divisions within the country. His remarks, made during an Oval Office address hours after Kirk’s death, signal a hyper-partisan response that disregards bipartisan efforts to heal the nation amid profound anger and mourning.
This was a huge Trump step in the opposite direction of all past presidential rhetoric. We are better than that.” He rejected President Joe Biden’s unifying refrain from the 2021 inaugural address – “Let’s come together.” Instead, he focused on retaliation towards those he blames for inciting political violence. During an interview with Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt, Trump stated, “I tell you something that is going to get me in trouble, but I couldn’t care less,” when asked about potential pathways to unite the country.
During his presidency, Trump launched blunt retributions on financier George Soros. He claimed that Soros bankrolls “professional agitators” who are perpetrating riots and civil unrest in cities throughout the country. He threatened Soros with a RICO investigation, typically used against mobsters. This decision further demonstrates that he is unafraid to go the extra mile to blow up bipartisan consensus.
“The radicals on the right are radical because they don’t want to see crime … The radicals on the left are the problem – and they are vicious and horrible and politically savvy.” – Donald Trump
Unlike Trump’s hateful rhetoric, these comments look toward reconciliation, not retribution. This move couldn’t be more different than recent presidents’ past patterns of promoting unity. Abraham Lincoln famously urged for healing “with malice toward none, with charity for all,” a sentiment that appears absent from Trump’s current approach. His rhetoric further indicates an unwillingness to follow in the footsteps of leaders who have sought to bridge political divides.
Instead, Trump is using his megaphone to amplify promises and threats to fight the Trump political enemies list. He’s proven tremendously dedicated to ramping up conflicts with what he perceives to be adversaries. His refusal to advocate for a bipartisan way forward exemplifies a departure from the norms of presidential leadership during times of national crisis.