'Be warned': Robert Reich details reasons Trump’s 'vengeance machine' is 'even more dangerous than before'

27 January

President Donald Trump generated plenty of controversy during his first week back in the White House, from pardoning around 1500 January 6 defendants to firing at least 15 inspectors general from federal government agencies to taking away security protections for former National Security Adviser John Bolton, Dr. Anthony Fauci and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo despite the threats they received.

In an opinion column published by The Guardian on January 27 — a week after Trump's inauguration — economist Robert Reich argues that Trump's "vengeance machine is even more dangerous than it was before."

Reich notes that according to "credible intelligence," Bolton and Pompeo are "in danger of being killed by agents of Iran" — yet Trump "revoked their security protection" anyway.

"If you think Trump's nominee for FBI director, Kash Patel, will protect them from violence, think again," Reich warns. "All three are on Patel's enemies list, which is basically Trump's enemies list….This is how the Trump vengeance machine works. Trump is the mob boss who keeps his hands clean while others do his dirty work."

Reich continues, "Who else is likely to do Trump's dirty work? Trump has pardoned all those who attacked the U.S. Capitol on his behalf on 6 January 2021. Trump says they were not violent and did not have weapons, but the world saw their violence; they were also caught on video. Nearly 175 used dangerous or deadly weapons, according to prosecutors."

Thanks to Trump's "vengeance machine," Reich laments, the "thugs" who violently attacked the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021 are "back on the street."

"How many nutjobs does it take to physically attack someone whom Trump has deemed an enemy?" Reich writes. "Just ask Paul Pelosi. Trump doesn't deliver violence himself. He just says awful things about a person who has crossed him, like Nancy Pelosi, knowing this will be enough to trigger threats or actual violence by one of his followers…. Trump's vengeance machine isn't only about retribution. It's also intended to intimidate Trump critics, force them to think twice before sounding any alarms, and chill public knowledge or debate about what Trump is doing."

Reich continues, "Be warned. Be safe. And to the extent you can, protect people Trump slams."

Robert Reich's full column for The Guardian is available at this link.

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