Trump whips up NRA audience with unhinged rant about guns and 'coup'

During his address to the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association (NRA), Trump went on a bizarre, unhinged rant that suggested he had stopped a “coup” on his presidency — and that he “didn’t even need a gun” to do so.

“We are taking the power out of Washington, D.C. and returning it to the American people where it belongs — you see it now, better than ever with all the resignations of bad apples, they’re bad apples,” Trump said. “They tried for a coup, but it didn’t work out so well.”

“And I didn’t need a gun for that one, did I?” Trump added, to laughter and cheers from the audience.

In recent days, Trump has started wrongly using the word “coup” to refer to special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of his campaign’s attempts to collude with Russia, and Trump’s multiple attempts to obstruct justice.

It’s not clear what Trump means by “resignations.” Given how much he watches Fox News, he might even be referring to former FBI official Lisa Page, who resigned a year ago amid controversy over text messages she sent that were critical of Trump.

Both Fox and some GOP members of Congress are still obsessed with promoting the baseless idea that there was an elaborate anti-Trump conspiracy inside the FBI, and that the FBI, not Trump, should be under investigation.

Trump’s remarks are deeply disturbing. He’s telling America’s most fanatically pro-gun audience that members of his own Department of Justice are trying to overthrow his presidency, and suggesting that it’s the kind of “coup” attempt that might require a gun to combat — but that Trump is tough enough not to need one.

It’s just the latest thinly veiled incitement to violence Trump has offered his armed supporters, and it’s incredibly disturbing and dangerous.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.