President Donald Trump has hit the six-month mark on his second term. This time last year, the usual suspects were going on and on about how he was an "existential threat" to democracy and the nation.
Of course, they claimed no responsibility for stochastic terrorism – a favorite buzz term just a couple of years previously – after two different would-be assassination attempts, but that's hardly shocking.
Still, they told us all that Trump was a clear and present danger to the United States of America.
They still do it, likening Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that lead to the arrest of illegal immigrants to secret police forces rounding up critics.
Yet, through it all, we know that they're lying. They don't see Trump as anything of the sort. I know for a fact they don't, and they've given us one prime bit of evidence to prove that they don't see it that way.
They refuse to back down on gun control.
As the One, Big Beautiful Bill worked its way through Congress, two measures included were the Hearing Protection Act and the SHORT Act. The first removed suppressors from the National Firearms Act list of items, and the second did the same with short-barreled rifles and shotguns. They'd have expanded the list of things Americans could purchase at their local gun store without permission from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Gun control groups and Democrats, but I repeat myself, tried to frame this as some gross miscarriage of all that is good and right in the world.
The thing is, though, if they really saw Trump as the threat they claim, why wouldn't they want easier access to guns? Why wouldn't they want suppressors and short-barreled rifles? Why aren't they clamoring for machine guns and to repeal assault weapon bans in various states so their side can arm themselves?
Why would they want to make it so there's absolutely no means to resist the tyranny they're so adamant Trump is bringing to our doorsteps?
For the love of all that is holy, why would you say Trump is an existential threat to democracy while simultaneously arguing that the government that answers to him should have all of the guns?
It makes no sense at all.
If they actually believed Trump to be that dangerous, they'd act differently, and I don't just mean quieting down. No, they'd be doing everything they could to make sure that at least some Americans have the means to fight back, rather than doing the opposite.
No, most of them know he's not. He's just the latest "literally Hitler" to enter their crosshairs. From Romney to Bush to now Trump yet again, they have to frame everything in the context of existential dread because most of their followers are too lazy to do anything unless they're terrified not to.
They know it's absolute BS, but they don't know how to get elected without the BS. Their policies aren't winning hearts and minds. I mean, sure, some people love the idea of grown men beating up women and calling it a sporting event, but most folks don't. We don't want our children groomed by pink-haired harpies who think their job as teachers is to indoctrinate kids to accept the left's gender ideology.
But if they can convince people to be afraid of the alternative, then maybe they can win.
Just don't think they believe it for a minute.