‘Deranged police state fever dream’: Internet explodes over Rudy Giuliani’s ‘incredibly fascist’ video for 9/11
Former New York City mayor, now President Donald Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani observed the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks by posting a chilling, creepy, and many are saying “fascist” video in the early morning, tweeting “GOD BLESS AMERICA!” in all-caps.
The highly-edited video opens with staged images of people protesting fascism, as a young child slowly sings “America the Beautiful.”
The camera closes in on a lone police officer starting at the protestors, who are exercising their First Amendment rights.
In an apparent flashback the officer seems to be remembering his life: a police badge is pinned on his shirt, a flag-draped coffin of a U.S. service member is carried past him, and a young boy sits in front of a television set watching footage reminiscent of fire fighters raising a flag in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
He then flips down the clear shield on his helmet, and the camera shows him whipping out a club – just as the protestors jump the barricade.
The words “This We’ll Defend” flash on the screen.
GOD BLESS AMERICA! https://t.co/VklXvWggKJ— Rudy W. Giuliani (@Rudy W. Giuliani) 1568181222
The video is looped, repeating until the user stops it.
NBC News’ Ben Collins explains the video is “a ‘banned from the Super Bowl’ ad that skirted the rules and got conservative media attention.”
This is not the start of a dystopian David Fincher movie about a cop who lost his mind (good guess!). It's a "bann… https://t.co/xMwPepBzF4— Ben Collins (@Ben Collins) 1568211069
Response to the disturbing clip was astonishment, confusion, anger, and outrage – and with many decrying it as clear fascism.
Take a look:
This video from Rudy honors the Republican tradition of using the memory of 9/11 to attack people who had absolutel… https://t.co/kHtaO4n5rb— southpaw (@southpaw) 1568209757
Rudy's been an out-fascist for a long, long time https://t.co/ZEg4AzL4OE— Jason (@Jason) 1568210309
Once upon a time, Rudy Giuliani was an attorney who understood the First Amendment. https://t.co/mgnjSbuwVo— Bad Fox Graphics (@Bad Fox Graphics) 1568210704
welp it's just Mayor 9/11 celebrating fascism on 9/11 day https://t.co/hkxrqSM7io— That Tom Tomorrow guy (@That Tom Tomorrow guy) 1568210641
nothing says "i remember 9/11 and respect the freedoms that were attacked" more than a video comparing social justi… https://t.co/f3m6EN6CXk— Bobby Lewis (@Bobby Lewis) 1568210965
not sure what's more risible here: Giuliani's slobbering fascism, or the fact that he has to use an unattributed co… https://t.co/3I4qtFQ5MP— inverted vibe curve: burgertown must be defended (@inverted vibe curve: burgertown must be defended) 1568211649
This is an ad for fascism, holy shit. I think Giuliani sucks, I've been worried about the right's nationalism, etc,… https://t.co/GsMiXCBPhc— Just UltraDavid (@Just UltraDavid) 1568211703
I'm sorry but this is deranged https://t.co/hgz4SjU4QS— Jesse Singal (@Jesse Singal) 1568210789
Gaslighting America on 9/11? Now this is DEPLORABLE https://t.co/y9OlhEZRpS— Cass O'Malley 🇺🇸 🏳️🌈 🍀🗽 (@Cass O'Malley 🇺🇸 🏳️🌈 🍀🗽) 1568211681
9-11 First Responders died so police could quash protest and deport immigrant families? Rudy was a terrible mayor… https://t.co/qWKmlCrSHU— Nathan Newman 🧭 (@Nathan Newman 🧭) 1568211859
Holy fuck Rudy. 1. You just reminded everyone how you used the police against the Black community while you were N… https://t.co/GeXVOwea1j— Daryle Lamont Jenkins (@Daryle Lamont Jenkins) 1568211806
Because the true message of 9/11 is that we need riot police to beat up some protestors https://t.co/GJdQepBNxt— 🕷Dante Atkins🕷 (@🕷Dante Atkins🕷) 1568212091
