Brian Klaas, an associate professor in global politics at University College London, told MSNBC’s The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart that, while the nation apparently isn’t taking Trump’s threats seriously, a group of his followers is hanging on every word.
And Klaas warned that they will take action.
“It has become the banality of crazy incitements of violence, a sort of normalcy,” he said.
He detailed recent outbursts from Trump: “You have him, you know, suggesting that you could execute America’s top general. On Friday night, he joked about Paul Pelosi being attacked, the crowd laughed when he was referencing, you know, sort of an 82-year-old man being hit in the head with a hammer.
“He called to execute people who shoplift from stores, a very minor crime. One we need to take seriously, but not one where they should face execution. He has demonized a number of people in his outburst on Truth Social, and in front of crowds.