X/@libsoftiktok
The initial virality of the video can be traced back to its sharing on the conservative media account ‘Libs of TikTok’. An unidentified person makes a violent threat to the Trump era government, citing its ﹣injustices and ‘authoritarianism’. The original video includes a man in a monologue talking about how the government is protecting a “dangerous presidency.” The viral video is of a man with disheveled looks ranting about the government’s protection of a “dangerous presidency.”
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In the video, the man talks about the checks and balances, stating that “our government is failing us” and that the Trump era “shows no regard for the Supreme Court and our Constitution.” He quotes “It looks like violence is the only way to rid the dangerous administration from office because the government won’t do his job and impeach this unqualified, incompetent, and dangerous president,” which is a much more perilous starting premise. Libs of TikTok regularly posts similar content, criticizing progressive movements. This time they wrote: “Leftist says he will resort to violence to remove and protest the Trump administration @FBI,” tagging the federal law enforcement. The still image that was used depicts the speaker with feverish looks and messy hair that intensifies the visual aspect of the emotional speech.
The users were extremely critical and incited quick responses to the video. A common criticism included the fact that the speaker had no rationale as to which he could plead. People immediately identified, as users commented, “he was so vague.” A high number of users were quick to point out and comment about the fact that the man’s notions were too mysterious to be reasoned. “Notice there’s never anything specific on anything they say, just platitudes, an allegation of authoritarianism, and a call for violence. It’s the Antifa playbook—assume everyone who won’t submit to you is a fascist even though it’s not true, then wage war by any means necessary with the initial assumption,” said one user.
The basic critiques of the speaker’s message seem to have sparked an obsessive focus on the speaker’s physical attributes. Most of the commenters promptly addressed the manner in which the man dealt with his hygiene and his physical presentation. “Why do they always have stringy gross hair?” remarked one user, while another said, “They always have crazy eyes and unkept appearances. Plus – completely ignorant of facts!” The emergence of the comments sparked a short debate on social media as to whether commenting about someone’s looks draws attention away from other issues, such as combating violence.
For numerous users, the explicit threat of violence was implicitly or explicitly relayed. One stated, “Another sick individual to put on a WATCH list,” whereas another inquired, “What time will the FBI be paying him a visit?” The combination of the shocking threat and politically charged violent rhetoric caused other users to call for a warrant to investigate the individual. This is in the backdrop of the increased scrutiny of political violence threats.
In contrast to the violent threats, some users decided to take a sarcastic approach. One commented, “Dude can’t figure out how to wash his hair. I have doubts he’s going to be leading some sort of coup or revolution. Especially if his parents ground him.” To a certain degree, the user was dismissing the potential for violence. Another person commented, “The only violence he is going to commit is against the 3rd pizza he doordashed that day. Arrest him anyways.”
Moving past the personal insults, other comments addressed the repeated unsubstantiated claims of the speaker. Ironically, a user mentioned, “Hasn’t Trump won every USSC case this year 😂,” and another user commented, “Funny Trump is a centrist. He is not nearly extreme enough to save America.” Both comments sarcastically ridicule the accusations directed at Trump.
The discussion further delved into general politics with a user writing, “They preach violence and terrorism on a daily basis, then run cover when one of their own acts on it while also making it about race.” This exemplifies the political violence and accountability debates for the past few years.
Constructively speaking, this is what ‘THIS is the point of intervention before they go over the edge. THE ACCEPTANCE THAT A REALITY EXISTS SO FAR OFF THE TRUTH IS DELUSION. HELP THIS MAN.’ shows the user, with the hashtag ‘HELP THIS MAN.’ Not purposefully condemning the user, the user implied the commenter’s psychological diagnosis.
Due to the ongoing Trump presidency, there is still political discourse around the video, showing calls for politically countering him. Explicit calls for violence are treated as unprotected speech and are the concern of law enforcement, whereas peaceful protest is protected speech. Because the message is condemned by both sides, it is evidence there is, however divided, a large percentage of Americans who oppose violence in politics.
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The virality of such content raises the question of whether social media platforms have an obligation to police violence-advocating content; removing such material from their services is challenging, as is fighting extremist speech in the free speech context. This highlights the political divide, the manifestation of some peoples’ frustrations and serves as a desperate cry that would be rejected by the majority of Americans irrespective of political affiliations.
You can view the original article HERE.
