Hypocrisy Unmasked: When MAGA Cries 'Victim' While Wielding the Sword

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Imagine waking up one morning, scrolling through the news on your phone, and stumbling upon a quote that makes you spit out your coffee. There it was, bold as brass: Speaker Mike Johnson, the man steering the Republican ship in the House, declaring with a straight face that "leaders cannot call their political opponents Nazis and fascists and enemies of the state because they disagree with their policy priorities. I mean, this is something we should’ve learned in grade school." No shred of irony, no wink to the camera. Just pure, unadulterated sanctimony. But as I sat there, staring at my screen, a wave of frustration washed over me. How could this be? How does someone from the heart of MAGA-land preach civility while ignoring the roaring bonfire of hatred their own side has been stoking for years?

Let me take you back a bit, like we're sitting around a campfire sharing stories that hit too close to home. Picture this: It's 2016, and Donald Trump is on the campaign trail, rallying crowds with words that feel like matches tossed into dry grass. He tells his supporters to "knock the crap out" of protesters, promising to pay their legal fees if things get rough. Fast forward, and that rhetoric doesn't fade—it amplifies. By the time he's in the White House, Trump's language paints Democrats not just as opponents, but as existential threats. "Enemies of the people," he calls the press, but it spills over to anyone who dares disagree. Democrats? They're "radical left thugs," "vermin," even "the enemy within." And let's not forget the chants at rallies: "Lock her up!" aimed at Hillary Clinton, or worse, threats against figures like Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff.

Have you ever paused to think about what happens when words like that echo from the highest office? Do they just vanish into the air, harmless as a summer breeze? Or do they seep into the minds of everyday folks, turning disagreement into something darker, more dangerous? I remember hearing about the pipe bombs sent to prominent Democrats in 2018—devices mailed to people like Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and George Soros. The sender? A Trump supporter who echoed the president's conspiracy theories. Coincidence? Or the natural offspring of a rhetoric that dehumanizes the "other side"?

But oh, the irony thickens when we look at Johnson's plea for grade-school manners. Meanwhile, the ones who have been inciting war on Democrats, attacking, verbally disrespecting, and calling others out their names and threatening? It has come straight from Trump’s administration against Democrats. Because of this, there has been civilians attacking civilians, lynchings, and murder! But sure, they play victim and then blame the other politicians! As if everything has never been already on TV and as if we did not already see.

Let's reflect on that for a moment. What does it say about our society when leaders decry inflammatory language only when it suits their narrative? Johnson's words came hot on the heels of recent tragedies, like the shocking killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September 2025—a horrific act that no one should condone. Trump quickly condemned it, rattling off a list of violence he attributes solely to the "radical left." But where's the acknowledgment of the other side of the coin? The January 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, where Trump's own words—"fight like hell"—fueled a mob that stormed the building, leading to deaths and injuries. Over 1,000 people charged, many citing Trump's rhetoric as their call to arms. Isn't that the epitome of incitement?

I feel this deeply, like a knot in my stomach that won't untie. Growing up, I watched my grandparents argue politics over dinner, but it was always with respect—disagreements ended with handshakes, not threats. Today? It's different. Between January 6 and the 2024 election, there were at least 300 documented cases of political violence in the U.S., many linked to far-right ideologies amplified by MAGA rhetoric. Think about the plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2020, hatched by militia members furious over COVID restrictions—restrictions Trump himself railed against, tweeting "LIBERATE MICHIGAN!" Or the attacks on Paul Pelosi in 2022, where the assailant echoed conspiracy theories peddled by right-wing media and figures close to Trump.

Why do we allow this double standard to persist? Is it because admitting the truth would force a reckoning with the monster we've helped create? Trump's playbook is clear: Demonize opponents, then feign shock when violence erupts. In a 2024 interview, he even suggested that generals who disagree with him should face execution, harking back to authoritarian tactics. And yet, when reporters confront him with lists of right-wing attacks on Democrats—like the El Paso shooting in 2019, inspired by anti-immigrant hysteria that mirrored Trump's words—he dodges, deflects, or denies.

Let's humanize this. Behind every statistic is a story—a family shattered, a community scarred. Take the rise in threats against election workers since 2020. Ordinary people, doing their civic duty, now living in fear because of baseless claims of voter fraud pushed by Trump and his allies. Death threats, doxxing, even armed confrontations at polling places. Have you ever volunteered for something as simple as counting ballots? Imagine showing up to help your democracy, only to be labeled a traitor by the president himself.

And it's not just isolated incidents. Polls show that two-thirds of Americans believe harsh political rhetoric is fueling violence. Researchers point to risk factors like elite cues—when leaders normalize aggression—and we're seeing them spike. MAGA's ecosystem, from social media echo chambers to rally chants, creates a feedback loop where calling Democrats "enemies" isn't hyperbole; it's a battle cry.

But here's where sarcasm creeps in, because how can you not roll your eyes? Johnson wags his finger at "both sides," but won't name Trump—the man who built his empire on division. It's like a arsonist lecturing about fire safety while holding a lit match. Republicans, fresh off trying to pin all violence on Democrats after the 2024 Trump shooting attempt, now preach unity? Please. As if we haven't seen the videos, the tweets, the endless stream of vitriol.

Reflect with me: What if we flipped the script? Suppose Democrats routinely called Republicans "fascists" and incited crowds to violence—would the outrage be the same? Or is this selective amnesia, a privilege afforded to those in power? I feel a profound sadness for what we've lost: the ability to disagree without destruction. My story isn't unique; it's echoed in living rooms across America, where families divide over politics, friendships fracture, and trust erodes.

Yet, there's hope in reflection. What if we demanded better? What if we held leaders accountable, not just for their policies, but for their words? Johnson's statement could be a starting point—if it weren't so hypocritical. Instead, it's a reminder: The real enemies aren't across the aisle; they're the lies that divide us.

As we navigate this turbulent time, let's ask ourselves: How did we get here? And more importantly, how do we find our way back? The answers lie not in blame, but in honest introspection. Because if we don't, the cycle of victim-playing and violence will only spin faster.

Santiago Del Carmen Maria (NewsFlash Movement)

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