Trump OKs Slavery Memorials, Claims 'Many Agree'
The Independent reports Trump expressing comfort with a DC statue honoring Robert E. Lee, a Confederate general who violently defended the institution of slavery. He added, ominously, 'A lot of people in this room' agree. Beyond the casual dismissal of historical atrocity, this statement fits a pattern. Recall Trump’s 2017 remarks regarding the Charlottesville protests, where he spoke of 'very
fine people on both sides' while white nationalists marched with swastikas. This isn't just about statues; it's about the consistent rhetorical normalization of figures who championed racial subjugation. One might wonder if the 'many people' in that room also believe the Civil War was just a misunderstanding, not a brutal conflict over the right to own human beings. It appears the former
President, who once demanded loyalty pledges from his staff, finds 'loyalty' to a slaveholding past perfectly acceptable for public veneration. The mainstream media frames this as a 'controversial stance,' but perhaps 'historically illiterate' and 'morally vacant' are more accurate descriptions. After all, what’s a little defense of institutionalized human bondage among friends?