There are fears that political violence could result from Trump’s latest legal woes.

Donald Trump’s supporters have expressed belligerent and conspiracy-laden rhetoric, raising fears that political violence could result from his campaign against his legal troubles.

As soon as Donald Trump was indicted, Arizona congressman Andy Biggs went on Twitter and called for retribution. “We have now reached the phase of war,” he said. “An eye for an eye.”

Using an abbreviation to refer to Trump as the true president, Clay Higgins, a Louisiana Republican congressman gave military instructions to his followers.

Higgins added: “Buckle up. 1/50K know your bridges. Rock steady calm. That is all,” he added, using an apparent reference to military-scale maps. (Two days later Higgins tweeted: “Let Trump handle Trump, he’s got this. We use the Constitution as our only weapon. Peace. Hold.”)

In the wake of Trump’s indictment, these two far-right congressmen – who both voted to overturn the 2020 election – demonstrate the alarming degree to which violent rhetoric has infiltrated mainstream Republican discourse.

Approximately 12 million adults believe violence is justified to restore Trump to power, according to a recent report from the University of Chicago’s Project on Security & Threats.

“I’ve been reporting on rightwing movements for 20 years. The ‘heat’ is hotter, the blast stronger. And the source more pungent,” said Jeffrey Sharlet, a professor at Dartmouth College and author of The Undertow, a book studying the far right.

“The ‘rhetoric’ is specific: while Twitter giggled at what it took to be the ‘word salad’ of Higgins’ statement, those who study militias read it as the call to arms it is.”

While Trump has encouraged this language since before he became president, it may have peaked around the time his supporters infiltrated the US Capitol in an attempt to prevent the certification of Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee. #featured #trump