For the last year-plus, diehard supporters of Donald Trump have warned us against daring to oppose him. Their explanation? If we take to the streets, our keyboards, and our phones to speak out against Trump, we are unpatriotic and un-American snowflakes. Heck, some think that we’re driven by demons and witchcraft.
That’s why it felt more than a little jarring when Trump himself loudly tweeted support for the recent protests in Iran.
Many reports of peaceful protests by Iranian citizens fed up with regime’s corruption & its squandering of the nation’s wealth to fund terrorism abroad. Iranian govt should respect their people’s rights, including right to express themselves. The world is watching! #IranProtests
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2017
The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran’s people are what their leaders fear the most…. pic.twitter.com/W8rKN9B6RT
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2017
Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice. The world is watching! pic.twitter.com/kvv1uAqcZ9
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2017
Big protests in Iran. The people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. Looks like they will not take it any longer. The USA is watching very closely for human rights violations!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017
Iran, the Number One State of Sponsored Terror with numerous violations of Human Rights occurring on an hourly basis, has now closed down the Internet so that peaceful demonstrators cannot communicate. Not good!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017
That disconnect was not lost on one of Trump’s biggest gadflies on Capitol Hill, Congressman Ted Lieu. The two-term Democrat from west Los Angeles has made a name for himself as one of Trump’s most ardent social media foes. It’s worked well; he has the fourth-highest Twitter following in the House.
In an interview with Comedy Central’s Jim Jefferies last fall, Lieu said his philosophy to countering Trump is simple–fight Trump’s lies with the truth.
Lieu told Jefferies that Trump is engaging in a systematic attack on our democratic institutions, such as the press and the courts. He initially wanted to give Trump a chance to govern, but it took him only two months to realize he was mistaken.
Now, as Lieu told Mashable last spring, he believes Trump is on “the road to authoritarianism.” However, he has reason for hope. He’s seen people getting involved who have previously stayed on the sidelines–not unlike Obama’s first campaign.
Just in case Trump hasn’t figured it out yet, Lieu decided to remind him.
I agree with @realDonaldTrump that people have the right to express themselves against a government that attacks the free press; corruptly uses private jets at the people's expense; and squanders the nation's wealth by increasing troops in the Middle East. The world is watching! https://t.co/E0kollMalL
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) December 30, 2017
That tweet could have just as easily been directed at Trump diehards who think that we should just get over it and accept Trump as president.
However, Lieu believes we should do a lot more than just tweet. As he told Mashable last spring:
“It can range from doing something as simple as writing a letter to the editor on an issue they’re upset with. Attending marches and rallies. Giving money. Registering people to vote. Working on a campaign. It’s up to folks, but everyone should try and get involved in something.”
Message received, Congressman. And it’s a message that should be delivered–and loudly–to Trump in 2018. the face of the nearly daily outrages from this White House, we will persist and resist.
(featured image courtesy Lieu’s Facebook)