American politics has long been a bruising, partisan affair and the political scene has been especially contentious under the Trump administration. However, the last few days have seen an already acerbic situation turn even more confrontational. Following criticisms over the separation of migrant families, protesters have been confronting Trump administration officials in public.
Many politicians, including Democrats, have denounced such tactics. However, Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters apparently told attendees at a rally over the weekend, “if you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you push back on them!”
President Trump didn’t take the words too kindly. On Twitter, the President fired back:
Congresswoman Maxine Waters, an extraordinarily low IQ person, has become, together with Nancy Pelosi, the Face of the Democrat Party. She has just called for harm to supporters, of which there are many, of the Make America Great Again movement. Be careful what you wish for Max!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2018
The President’s response shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. After all, they both sit on different sides of the aisle, and Waters has been among the more vocal critics of Trump. What’s perhaps a bit more surprising was how quickly Waters’ own party turned on her. Nancy Pelosi gently but firmly rebuked Waters on Twitter, arguing:
In the crucial months ahead, we must strive to make America beautiful again. Trump’s daily lack of civility has provoked responses that are predictable but unacceptable. As we go forward, we must conduct elections in a way that achieves unity from sea to shining sea. https://t.co/vlpqOBLK4R
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) June 25, 2018
Pelosi’s issue appears to do more with method than political alignment. Some fear that Waters’ comments could result in violence if protesters were to attack Trump administration officials. However, others argue that public shunning is one of the best methods for driving home their dissent. Waters’ comments seem to have been rather vague and called for protests but not violence. However, in today’s political environment, it’s not hard to imagine the protests spinning out of control.
Already, protesters have confronted White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, and a few other officials have been publicly shamed. Republican Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, an avid supporter of President Trump, was also publicly shunned after striking down protections for health insurance customers with pre-existing conditions.
