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President Trump:
An American Patriot or an American Rebel?

With his back against the wall and facing a lifetime ban on holding public office, former
President Donald Trump remains valiant while against all odds.

Fomer President Donald J. Trump

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On the morning of January 7, 2021, the headline to a New York Times publication read “TRUMP INCITES MOB” referencing the previous day when a large group of Pro-Trump protestors stormed the capitol in a brazen attempt to unlawfully overturn the 2020 presidential election results. After reporting violent clashes between the protesters and capitol police, media agencies from all platforms, large and small, all came to one general consensus at the conclusion of the debacle which was an incitement of insurrection had occurred on the Capitol which had been caused by none other than the President of the United States, Republican Donald J. Trump. As a result, Trump would obtain his second impeachment by Congress thus becoming the first president in United States history to be impeached twice. The former president's impeachment trial is now set to begin the week of February 8th after a deal was reached to entertain the proceedings by the Senate. Before the highly anticipated venue begins, the most relevant question before President Trump's impeachment trial is one that will be discussed by historians for years to come as part of his legacy and that is: Is President Donald Trump an American Patriot or an American Rebel?

"I know that everyone here will soon be marching over there to the capitol building, to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard."

President Donald J. Trump
Save America Rally Jan. 6, 2021

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Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas called a post-presidency Senate trial for Trump "vindictive" while democratic lawmakers refer to the impeachment proceedings as an attempt to serve justice against a rogue president which is long overdue. Under federal law it is a crime punishable up to 10 years in prison to incite, assist, or engage in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof. Democratic lawmakers are accusing trump of violating this particular federal statute, however, whether it can be proven is a challenge that lawmakers will face before they can obtain a conviction in the Senate. At his January 6th "Save America Rally" a then President Trump made statements advising his supporters to show "strength" in order to "take back" their country, and within his long speech made several claims to patriotism while championing several republican officials such as congressman Jim Jordan, but never at any time directly advised anyone to use force or insurrection against the United States government. This could prove to be a problem for Democrats during the Senate impeachment trial as they attempt to prove President Trump to have incited a seditious rebellion against the United States by influencing a mob to storm the capitol in an attempt to overturn a free and fair democratic election. Based on Trumps words and his words alone, Trump did in fact indicate at the Save America Rally that he wanted his supporters to "peacefully and patriotically" make their voices heard at the Capitol. However, the same cannot be said for President Trump's attorney and former Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani, who at the same rally suggested supporters "Have trial by combat".

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In Trump's defense, the violent mob could have very well been incited by the rhetoric of Giuliani as opposed to the peaceful indication of President Trump. But on the other hand, lawmakers may have a valid point where they suggest Trump simply should have known better than to take part at a rally where false claims of widespread voter fraud were being made, and where other speakers at the rally were suggesting violence against duly elected officials of the United States Government. Although subject to controversy, there is no real clear directive from President Trump advising his supporters at the Save America Rally to commit acts of violence against the authority of the United States Government. In fact, the record is clear that Trump emphatically indicated the opposite. But what is even more clear is the fact that President Joe Biden was fairly elected in a safe and secure 2020 election, and regardless if Trump intended for peaceful protest or not, he perpetuated a falsehood at his rally that contributed to the siege of the capitol by making false claims of widespread voter fraud where the facts show there was none.

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