Donald Trump’s Sinister Second ‘Major Announcement’ Overshadowed by Laughable Trading Cards Release
Donald Trump this week went from MAGA hero to the butt of serious jokes online. On Wednesday, he teased a
Tristan Green
Donald Trump this week went from MAGA hero to the butt of serious jokes online.
On Wednesday, he teased a “major announcement” to come on Thursday, and many supporters immediately latched onto the idea that another Q-Anon-like info drop was coming.
Or maybe he was announcing his running mate. Or maybe he was going to run as an Independent and shatter the GOP in 2024. Or maybe any number of other consequential things were speculated by both fans and critics alike.
As it turns out, no one could have predicted what he was actually announcing.
And the shock (and laughter) over that announcement overshadowed another announcement Trump made shortly after – one that is ominous and vaguely threatening.
See: DONALD TRUMP TEASED AFTER ‘SUPERHERO’ ANNOUNCEMENT TURNS OUT TO BE GLORIFIED POKÉMON CARDS
Donald Trump’s Dueling ‘Major Announcements’
First, the big “major announcement” that Trump teased hit Truth Social yesterday, and it was met with disbelief.
Trump wrote, “MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT! My official Donald Trump Digital Trading Card collection is here! These limited edition cards feature amazing ART of my Life & Career! Collect all of your favorite Trump Digital Trading Cards, very much like a baseball card, but hopefully much more exciting. Go to collecttrumpcards.com/ & GET YOUR CARDS NOW! Only $99 each! Would make a great Christmas gift. Don’t Wait. They will be gone, I believe, very quickly!”
Trump has released a series of NFT digital trading cards, somewhere between a baseball card and a Pokémon card.
Understandably, the internet exploded in uproar.
But it could be that Trump expected that uproar, because shortly after that announcement, he dropped another one – this one far more consequential. But it was buried under the hubbub.
This time, Trump released a video promising that he was taking on the media to protect free speech – with some vaguely threatening language.
In the nearly-seven-minute video, Trump said “if we don’t have free speech, then we just don’t have a free country.”
MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT: President Trump has announced his 2024 free speech platform:
— MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) December 15, 2022
– BAN the gov from policing lawful speech
– FIRE any bureaucrat who has directly or indirectly engaged in censorship
-BAR federal funds for universities that censor speech
pic.twitter.com/CPcGKF2UBV
“That’s why today I’m announcing my plan to shatter the left-wing censorship regime and to reclaim the right to free speech for all Americans. And reclaim is a very important word in this case. Because they’ve taken it away.
Trump continued, “In recent weeks, bombshell reports have confirmed that a sinister group of deep state bureaucrats, Silicon Valley tyrants, left wing activists and depraved corporate news media have been conspiring to manipulate and silence the American people. They have collaborated to suppress vital information on everything from elections to public health. The censorship cartel must be dismantled and destroyed, and it must happen immediately.”
Trump promised “within hours of my inauguration” to go on a scouring rampage of federal workers who he feels censored free speech – likely people who have spoken out against him.
He then urged House Republicans to send preservation letters to the Biden administration ordering them not to destroy evidence of censorship.
Trump also threatened universities with removal of federal funds if they flagged information for removal, and talked about subjecting intelligence agents to a 7-year cooling off period before they could take a job at a company that deals with user data.
Elon Musk Leads Donald Trump’s Charge Against Censorship
Criticizing me all day long is totally fine, but doxxing my real-time location and endangering my family is not
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 16, 2022
With multiple mentions of censorship and Twitter, it’s clear that Trump’s team has glommed onto the battle currently being waged on his former favorite platform.
Elon Musk has gained a lot of fame (or infamy, depending on who you ask) in recent weeks for talking about suppression of conservative voices, censorship and the defense of free speech.
But both Trump and Musk have been famous for only applying their passion for free speech to those people who speak in their favor.
Musk, for instance, is under fire today for suspending a number of Twitter accounts of journalists who have been critical of him.
The new Twitter CEO says it’s about safety and doxxing, but has not provided proof that these journalists did anything that would be considered doxxing.
It’s a worrying sally into a new battle that Trump seems gleeful to start waging. It’s a continuation of an old favorite parade of complaints for Trump, but the language he’s using is the strongest he’s used yet.
But historically, those who speak the loudest against censorship are the ones trying to find a way to work censorship in their favor.
Hitler, for instance, was ostensibly a big proponent for “uncensored speech” – but only his.