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#Trump is ramping up his rhetoric depicting his political rivals & critics as criminals, while dropping a long trail of suggestions that he favors outlawing political #FreeSpeech that *he* deems misleading [so facts / #FactChecking] or challenges his claims to #power.

In a speech Friday in Aurora, Colorado, the #Republican presidential nominee blasted the #immigration system & lobbed a rhetorical grenade at his Democratic rival, VP #KamalaHarris.

“She’s a criminal. She’s a criminal,” said #Trump, who was found #guilty of 34 #felony counts of falsifying business records in his NY hush money trial. “She really is, if you think about it.”
It’s a pattern of messaging that has long been part of Trump’s stump speeches but has escalated significantly in his 2024 candidacy. In the final stretch to the Nov 5 #election, Trump has developed a tendency to claim that speech he disapproves of is illegal, even if it is protected by the #FirstAmendment.

A questionable cut of a “60 Minutes” Harris interview? “Totally illegal,” #Trump wrote on X, saying it makes #Harris look better & that #CBS should have its broadcast license revoked [even if CBS did that, still not illegal].

The Harris campaign editing headlines in paid Google ads? “Totally Illegal,” he wrote, vowing that Google “will pay a big price” for it. [again 100% LEGAL]

Democrats are trying to “illegally hide” part of his statement calling on rioters to be peaceful on #Jan6, #Trump claimed this month. [nope, AGAIN, legal, also Dems are highlighting it because it was so idiotic for him to say “remain peaceful” as they were beating the crap out of Capitol police, breaking windows & defecating in the building]

In Aug, #Trump told a crowd…that criticisms of judges who have ruled in alignment w/him should be banned. “I believe it’s illegal what they do,” Trump said. “I believe they are playing the ref. They’re constantly criticizing our great — some of our greatest justices & a lot of great judges. … Playing the ref w/our judges & our justices should be punishable by very serious fines & beyond that.” [yet, he CONSTANTLY attacks the judges & justice system]

An expert who studies #authoritarianism & #fascism said #Trump’s rhetoric about criminalizing #dissent is familiar, & could carry serious implications for the country if he’s elected president.

“This is out of the autocratic playbook. As autocrats consolidate their #power once they’re in office, anything that threatens their power, or exposes their #corruption, or releases #information that’s harmful to them in any way becomes illegal,” said #RuthBenGhiat, a historian & professor at NYU….

“He’s actually rehearsing, in a sense, what he would be doing as head of state, which is what #Orban does, #Modi is doing, #Putin has long done…Just as there’s a divide now because of this #brainwashing about who is a #patriot & who is a #criminal about #Jan6 …In the same way, telling the truth in any area— #journalists, #scientists, … anybody who is engaged in objective inquiry, prosecutors, of course—they become criminal elements & they need to be shut down,” #RuthBenGhiat said.

…#Trump has responded to criticisms of his #authoritarian rhetoric by repeatedly claiming #Democrats are the real fascists & accusing them of “weaponizing” the government against him.…

If he’s elected, could Trump actually succeed at centralizing #power for himself, in a system built on checks & balances that was often successful at restraining him during his first term.