Is Trump Staging a Coup D’État?
And why words matter in the modern age
It’s been almost ten days since the election to end all elections and the rhetoric continues apace. On this platform and many others there has been a general outpouring and consternation about a Trumpian coup d’état. As I’ve said in many articles before this one. Words matter.
How Democrats talk about what Trump is doing is important.
I won’t beat around the bush, Trump’s loss in the election has brought a sense of uncertainty to the great US experiment. His decision not to concede to Biden plus talk of widespread ‘voter fraud’ and lawsuits at every turn have made Democrats, and some Republicans feel very uneasy.
Trump is encouraging many of his core supporters, somewhat successfully, to believe that the election was neither free nor fair. Some members of the Senate seem to be encouraging him, more cautious players, are keeping their own counsel and cards close to their chest.
Is Trump staging a coup d’état?
No. That question is simply answered — and not worth debating. Here’s why.
“A coup or coup d’état is the removal of an existing government from power, usually through violent means. Typically, it is an illegal, unconstitutional seizure of power by a…
