Yesterday, federal agents executed a search warrant at former President Trump’s Mar-A-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida seeking classified documents he failed to return after leaving the White House, according to press reports. Trump said in a statement that the FBI had “raided and occupied” his estate. In response, MAGA Republicans are falling in line with Trump and calling for extreme remedies like defunding the FBI and even threatening violence and secession.
“Yesterday was a sad day for the country, but not for the reasons MAGA Republicans think,” said Defend Democracy Project Communications Director Nicole Haley. “By calling for secession, violence, and civil war, Republicans are showing just where their loyalties lie: not to the country, not to the Constitution, and not to the law enforcement agents doing their jobs – only to Donald Trump and their quest to stay in power no matter what laws are broken. They must remember that no one is above the law, not even former presidents.”
Republicans Are Escalating Their Rhetoric In Violent Terms, Even Moving Towards Civil War. Trump supporters are actively calling for civil war after the FBI executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago. MAGA, QAnon, and far-right message boards & Telegram channels reportedly “lit up” with violent calls-to-action, and right-wing internet forums overall were significantly more active and militant than usual following the incident. According to an NBC analyst, “The posts on these pro-Trump forums tonight are as violent as I’ve seen them since before January 6th. Maybe even more so.” Far-right Breitbart pundit Joel B. Pollak warned of a “very real risk of violent political instability” as tweets referencing “civil war” spiked. Top MAGA Republicans made similar appeals comparing the search to various authoritarian regimes:
- Arizona Governor candidate Kari Lake released a statement: “The 10th Amendment can and will save our Republic and the road to stripping the Feds of power travels right through Arizona. We must fire the Federal Government. As Governor, I will fight these Tyrants [sic] with every fiber of my being. America — dark days lie ahead for us.”
- House candidate Laura Loomer (FL-11) wrote on Telegram: “This is a WAR! And it’s time to obliterate these communists. Tonight they attacked President Donald Trump.”
- Rep. Diana Harshbarger (TN-1) said, “This inconceivable raid is an attack on our Republic.”
- Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) wrote, “Using government power to persecute political opponents is something we have seen many times from 3rd world Marxist dictatorships. But never before in America”
- Donald Trump Jr. tweeted, “Biden and the Dems are following in the footsteps of all the 3rd world Communist Dictators that the left worships.” Shortly after the former President released a statement on the search, Trump Jr. wrote, “DOJ is ripping this country apart with how they’re openly targeting their political enemies.”
MAGA Republicans are Calling to ‘Defund’ and ‘Destroy’ the FBI and Department of Justice To Undermine Law Enforcement. Right-wing media figures like Laura Ingraham on Fox News have demanded that Republicans “purge the government” if they retake power after the midterm elections. Republican elected officials have echoed this sentiment, falling in line with Trump and arguing in favor of “defunding” and dismantling the federal law enforcement system, to the point of calling for all elected Republicans to avoid accountability altogether.
- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14) proclaimed, “we have to defund and make cuts in the Department of Justice…and then completely cut out of their budget the ability to persecute Republicans.” Greene, who reportedly requested a presidential pardon after Jan. 6, earlier proclaimed, “DEFUND THE FBI!”
- Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-4) posted, “We must destroy the FBI. We must save America. I stand with Donald J. Trump.” Gosar, who also requested a presidential pardon after Jan. 6, later posted, “I will support a complete dismantling and elimination of the democrat brown shirts known as the FBI. This is too much for our republic to withstand.”
- Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-5), wrote, “Congress must look into the viability of our federal law enforcement agencies that abuse their authorities for political purposes.”
- Rep. Matt Gaetz (FL-1) wrote, “I stand with President Trump!” Like Gosar and Greene, Gaetz also requested a presidential pardon after Jan. 6.
- Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO-3) wrote, “The GOP majority must defund all forms of tyranny throughout Biden’s government.”
- Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21) stated, “The political weaponization of the FBI and Department of Justice is an actual threat…There is a reason that Americans no longer trust these agencies.”
- Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA-23) released a statement, “When Republicans take back the House, we will conduct immediate oversight of [the Department of Justice], follow the facts, and leave no stone unturned.”
- Rep. Ronny Jackson (TX-13) wrote, “Tonight the FBI officially became the enemy of the people!!!”
- Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) stated, “The Biden Admin has fully weaponized DOJ & FBI to target their political enemies…And with 87K new IRS agents, they’re coming for YOU too.”
- Senate candidate J.D. Vance from Ohio also weighed in: “The people who’ve politicized the FBI in recent years will face investigation and prosecution.”
MAGA Republicans Want to Arrest FBI Agents and Spread Fear. Several Florida lawmakers are calling for the arrest of federal agents, with one state lawmaker and House candidate Anthony Sabatini urging Florida to “sever all ties” with the Department of Justice. He wrote, “It’s time for us in the Florida Legislature to call an emergency legislative session & amend our laws regarding federal agencies.” Other MAGA Republicans have sought to instill fear in the public by suggesting that citizens could soon be targeted by federal agents. House candidate Laura Loomer in Florida wrote on Telegram, “If you sit on the sidelines and refuse to act, they will attack you and your family next.” The House Judiciary GOP tweeted, “If they can do it to a former President, imagine what they can do to you.”
