The words “RIP America” trended X minutes later jury in Manhattan found former President Donald Trump guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
The image of an upside down American flag—a symbol of suffering was used by the community 2020 Stop Theft movement—flooded social media, as Trump supporters, fringe extremistsRight-wing pundits and politicians have expressed their anger.
Since the trial began, pro-Trump commentators — and Trump himself — have pushed the MAGA online ecosystem to declare criminal wrongdoing if the jury finds him guilty. Reaction to his felony conviction was quickly predictable, with many seeing it as a declaration of “war” from the “deep state.” The incendiary rhetoric about the guilty verdict signaling America’s demise resonated from the mainstream right to the fringes.
“As of today, with the sham guilty verdict against Trump, America is no longer the United States,” Joey Marianno, a pro-Trump political commentator, wrote to his 466,000 followers on X. . a civil war. I do not wish to see this country united. There is no country to unite. We got over that a long time ago.”
Many of the most vocal supporters of the “Stop the Steal” movement, which culminated in the Capitol riot on January 6, did not hesitate to say that the verdict was the result of a flawed justice system. “cheat”.
In a video posted to his 2.3 million followers on hoping that a guilty verdict would harm his campaign. “Ladies and gentlemen, we see our republic on its deathbed,” Jones said, adding that he believes “false flag terrorist attacks are blamed on Trump supporters angry about the impending” verdict. “We don’t want any violence, we don’t want any attacks,” he said.
Ali Alexander, a far-right conspiracy theorist, also did not mince his words. “Today is January 6 for the whole country,” he wrote on Telegram to his 12,000 subscribers. “This is worse than the Civil War. Best regards.”
That kind of rhetoric even made it onto the airwaves. “We called it legal,” Fox News’ Jeanine Pirro said. “I think the legal value is too soft and too lenient. This is war.”
Trump spoke out on Truth Social and in a fundraising email shortly after the verdict was issued, reinforcing his false claim that he was the victim of political persecution, perpetrated by a corrupt system , determined to “steal” the 2024 election from him.
“THIS IS A DISGUST—A rigged trial by a corrupt, conflicted judge. WE WILL FIGHT FOR OUR CONSTITUTION—THIS IS LONG TO THE END!” he wrote on Truth Social.
Trump’s claims of “cheating” have been echoed by his supporters. Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk also perpetuated conspiracy theories about the verdict. Kirk wrote on cheat,” Kirk wrote on X. “We have to win. We must defeat these barbarians. Stand with Trump.”
